Starting from Sunday, September 1, there will be an increase in student bus fares; however, users of the blue and yellow bus cards will not be affected by this change.
Joel Abraham, CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), stated that while student fares have been adjusted to match adult fares, the Government has intervened to fully subsidize this increase.
Abraham noted that the assessment conducted by the FCCC ensured that families would not bear any additional financial burden due to the new fare structure. The Government’s subsidy guarantees that any extra costs for students are entirely covered, including during weekends and school holidays, while adult fares remain unchanged.
Details regarding the fares include:
– Blue Card: The Government will subsidize 100% of the additional fare for students.
– Yellow Card: Students will continue to pay the existing fare, with the rest covered by the Government at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare adjustment comes after a thorough review by the FCCC, which implemented a per-seat fare allocation model. The review was carried out in close collaboration with bus industry operators to ensure they receive fair compensation through a comprehensive cost recovery model.
Abraham emphasized that the intention of this initiative is to support the bus industry while keeping services affordable for consumers. He also stressed the importance of bus operators maintaining and improving service quality in line with the new fare structure.
“We will be closely observing the services provided by bus operators to ensure they meet the expected standards and deliver value to passengers in accordance with the fare adjustments.”