With the new increased diesel price coming into effect today, the Fiji Bus Operators Association (FBOA) is again urging the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission to review bus fare prices.
The association says the continued increase in fuel prices risks ruining operators.
From today (May 1), diesel price increases by 22.27 per cent to $2.79 – an increase of $0.51 a litre – “a vast overnight hike in a major operational cost for bus operators”.
“Bus operators are not able to pass on any of these increased costs to consumers without a bus fare increase,” FBOA spokesperson Priscilla Serevi said in a statement.
“This in turn further increases the financial pressure on bus operators.
“A continued delay in finalising the bus fare increase, pushes operators further toward ruin and brings closer the imminent collapse of the bus industry.”
Ms Serevi said bus operators would not be able to continue providing services to the travelling public should those impacts be not mitigated with an immediate fare review.
“Bus operators stand ready to work with stakeholders to ensure services are not interrupted, however, serious and urgent consideration needs to be given to an immediate fare increase to enable bus companies to continue operating.”
