BANGKOK, 18 December 2014 – The Ministry of Transport is planning to adjust the fares of bus line operators as pricing competition with low-cost airline carriers intensifies.
The Minister of Transport Air Chief Marshal Prajin Janthong today held talks with bus line operators led by the President of the Thai Transportation Operators Association Sujinda Cherdchai to seek measures that will aid operators who have been affected by the cheap ticket prices of low-cost airline carriers.
The Minister said that he has ordered the Department of Civil Aviation to find an appropriate minimum fare for low-cost airlines in order to avoid disturbing other modes of transportation, especially on the Bangkok – Phuket and Bangkok – Chiang Mai routes where airfares have been adjusted to 650 baht per flight, which is the same rate as the bus fare.
The Ministry of Transport is also to introduce measures to tackle illegal passenger service cars by putting the Department of Land Transport and the Transport Co.,Ltd directly in charge of solving the issue.
The Ministry will also hold a conference on 22nd December 2014 regarding a request for cooperation in reducing bus fares in the wake of the falling oil price, while noting that operators had in the past requested a fare hike even before the oil price began to climb.
Bus operators will gather all relevant information and submit it to the Director-General of the Department of Land Transport Teerapong Rodprasert for further consideration.
