Starting September 1, the fares for student bus rides will increase, but users of the blue and yellow bus cards will not be affected by this change.
Joel Abraham, the CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), stated that while student fares are being adjusted to match adult fares, the government has intervened to fully subsidize the difference.
“Our assessment showed that the changes will have no financial impact on students and their families. The government’s subsidy will cover any additional costs for students, even on weekends and during school holidays, while adult fares will remain the same,” he explained.
Details on the fare changes include:
– For Blue Card holders: The government will completely subsidize the increase in student fares.
– For Yellow Card holders: Students will continue to pay the existing fare, with the government covering the remaining costs at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare change follows an extensive review by the FCCC, which adopted a per-seat fare allocation model.
The FCCC’s review was conducted in close collaboration with bus industry operators to ensure that operators are fairly compensated under a full cost recovery model.
Abraham noted that this initiative aims to support the industry while keeping travel affordable for consumers. He also highlighted that with the new fare structure, bus operators are expected to uphold and improve the quality of their services.
“We will closely monitor the services provided by bus operators to ensure they adhere to the required standards and deliver value to passengers in accordance with the fare adjustments.”