Beginning Sunday September 1, student bus fares will increase, however, those using the blue and yellow bus cards will not be impacted.

Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) CEO Joel Abraham says while student fares have been “adjusted to align with adult fares, the Government has stepped in to fully subsidise this increase.”

“To ensure that families are not burdened by the new fare structure, our assessment took into account that any changes have zero financial impact on students and parents. As such, the Government’s subsidy ensures that any additional cost for students is completely covered, even during weekends and school holidays, and the adult fare remains unchanged,” he said.

Fare Details:

Blue Card: The Government will fully subsidise 100% of the additional student fare.

Yellow Card: Students will continue to pay the current fare, with the remaining portion fully covered by the Government, applicable at all times, including during weekends and school holidays.

This fare adjustment follows a comprehensive review conducted by the FCCC, which transitioned to a per-seat fare allocation model.

FCCC’s review, which was conducted with close collaboration with bus industry operators, also ensures that bus operators receive fair compensation through a full cost allocation recovery model.

Mr Abraham says this is aimed at sustaining the industry while maintaining affordability for consumers.

Mr Abraham emphasized that with the new fare structure, bus operators must do their part to maintain and enhance service quality.

“We will be closely monitoring the services provided by bus operators to ensure they meet the expected standards and provide value to passengers in line with the fare adjustments.”