Long-distance bus fares to fall up to 20%

Like low-cost airlines with flexible prices, discounts of up to 20% to be allowed for long-distance buses between cities & provinces.

TRANSPORTATION

Interprovincial bus fares to fall up to 20%

29/10/2015
Online Reporters

Inter-provincial buses (buses between Bangkok and the provinces and between provinces)  will be allowed to offer promotional discounts on fares of up to 20% to improve their competitiveness with low-cost airlines.

Transport regulators have decided to allow bus operators to introduce promotional fares, instead of the old fixed fare system based on distance.

Both ceiling and floor ticket prices will be set with discounts of up to 20% on the old fixed fare.

This will allow flexibility to set their promotional fares to attract travellers, in the same way low-cost airlines attract passengers...

...the fare adjustment would be voluntary. Each operator could decide their own promotional details.

LOWER FARES EXPECTED SOON

Lower fares are expected with the new freedom to reduce fares,  especially during the New Year festival. 

In fact, limits on discounts are needed to prevent price dumping, tickets sold below cost at a loss by large bus companies for a time to bankrupt smaller companies.

The state-run Transport Co, said the company would not pioneer promotional fares, to avoid complaints from the private sector.

Fare cuts are expected by New Years (January 1st) this year.

POSSIBLE NEW FARES

Based on a maximum 20% cut in fares, the cost of a ticket on an airconditioned bus between Bangkok and Pattaya would be cut to 92 baht from 115; Bangkok - Nakhon Ratchasima to 157 baht from 196; Bangkok - Chiang Mai to 400 baht from 500; and Bangkok - Phuket to 482 baht from 603.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/747912/interprovincial-bus-fares-to-fall-up-to-20

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