The newly announced bus fare structure, which began in August, is now operational. Joel Abraham, the chief executive of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), clarified that while student fares have been aligned with adult fares, the Government is fully subsidizing this increase to prevent financial strain on families.
Abraham assured that the Government’s subsidy will cover any extra costs for students, including weekends and school holidays, while adult fares remain unchanged.
In detail, the Blue Card holders will have their additional student fare fully subsidized by the Government, while Yellow Card holders will continue to pay the current fare, with the Government covering the remaining portion for all times, weekends, and school holidays.
This fare adjustment comes after a thorough review by the FCCC, which shifted to a per-seat fare allocation model while collaborating closely with local bus operators to ensure they receive fair compensation through a full cost recovery model. This initiative aims to sustain the bus industry while keeping fares affordable for consumers.
Abraham highlighted the importance of bus operators maintaining high service standards in light of the fare changes. The FCCC will monitor the services provided to ensure they align with expected quality and deliver value to passengers.
Looking forward, the FCCC plans to initiate the next bus fare review in September 2024, beginning with data collection and analysis to ensure future fare adjustments reflect market conditions and balance the needs of consumers and the industry.