Starting September 1, student bus fares will rise, but those who use blue and yellow bus cards will remain unaffected.
Joel Abraham, CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), stated that while the student fares have been adjusted to match adult fares, the government will fully subsidize this increase. “Our evaluation confirmed that these changes will not financially burden students or their families. The government’s subsidy guarantees that any extra costs for students, even on weekends and during school holidays, are completely covered, while the adult fare will stay the same,” he explained.
Details on the fare structure include:
– Blue Card: The government will fully subsidize all increased student fares.
– Yellow Card: Students will continue to pay the existing fare, with the rest covered by the government at all times, including weekends and holidays.
This fare change comes after an extensive review conducted by the FCCC, which adopted a per-seat fare allocation model. The review, conducted in partnership with bus industry operators, ensures that they receive fair compensation through a comprehensive cost recovery model.
Abraham highlighted that this adjustment aims to support the bus industry while keeping services affordable for customers. He also noted that bus operators are expected to enhance service quality with the new fare structure. “We will monitor the services provided by bus operators closely to ensure they meet the expected standards and offer value to passengers in line with these fare changes.”