Starting Sunday, September 1, student bus fares will be raised, though users of the blue and yellow bus cards will not see any changes to their costs.
Joel Abraham, the CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), explained that while student fares will be adjusted to be in line with adult fares, the Government has decided to fully subsidize this increase.
He stated, “To ensure that families are not burdened by the new fare structure, our assessment considered that changes will have no financial impact on students and parents. The Government’s subsidy guarantees that any additional costs for students are entirely covered, even on weekends and during school holidays, while adult fares will remain the same.”
Details of the fare changes include:
– Blue Card holders will have 100% of the increased student fare fully subsidized by the Government.
– Yellow Card users will continue to pay their current fare, with the Government covering the remainder at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare adjustment comes after a thorough review by the FCCC, which shifted to a fare allocation model based on per-seat pricing.
The FCCC’s review involved close collaboration with bus industry operators, ensuring that they receive fair compensation through a comprehensive cost recovery model.
Mr. Abraham mentioned that this initiative aims to sustain the industry while keeping services affordable for consumers. He emphasized the need for bus operators to enhance and maintain the quality of their services under the new fare structure.
“We will be closely monitoring the services provided by bus operators to ensure they meet the expected standards and deliver value to passengers in line with the fare adjustments.”