TIRANA, April 14 /ATA/ – Public transport operators in the Albanian capital and other cities across the country said on Tuesday they will cut bus services by 40% starting Wednesday, citing a sharp rise in fuel prices and a lack of government support.
In a joint statement, the National Urban Transport Association and the Urban and Interurban Transport Association said the decision follows an increase in diesel prices to around 215 lek per litre, significantly raising operating costs.
Transport operators expressed concern over the absence of a compensation scheme to offset higher fuel costs, as well as the lack of a government action plan to ease the sector’s fiscal burden.
They said no concrete financial support measures have been adopted and no steps have been taken to review key cost components affecting operators, including excise duties, circulation tax and value-added tax.
“Until immediate measures are taken by the responsible institutions, a 40% reduction in the fleet is a necessary step to sustain operations under these difficult financial conditions,” the statement said.
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