Bus company owners claim costs of operations are high and this has led to some operators constantly changing schedules to incur minimum loss as possible.

According to the operators, fuel prices and prices for spare parts have impacted their service and this means that at this point in time they cannot consider having bus services run into the evening.

Owner of Samoa Matalasi, Tamatoa Mariner, said bus proprietors, including himself, deal with challenging situations such as the fact  that sometimes fares do not cover the diesel costs incurred by the bus drivers.

“There are many difficulties faced by bus owners and some bus owners have given up and some are selling their buses,” he said.

"Samoa Matalasi Transport has eight ready-made Toyota coasters and one wooden bus and all of these run on diesel.

“Every day, we struggle in filling the buses because some of the buses don’t earn much most days.” 

Mr. Mariner claimed that other bus operators who he interacts with are facing the same issue.

“Sometimes, buses are held back because of not enough passengers to drop off, especially in afternoons. Why waste diesel for just five to six people to be seated and dropped?” Mr. Mariner said.

“By far, I know Samoa Matalasi Transport has the most amounts of buses. People think we are rich and have nothing to worry about but in reality things are quite the opposite and I am talking from my experience, it is hard.”

Samoa Matalasi Transport was established around five years ago but the owner of the company said his family has been in the bus industry for much longer. 

During the 1970s, Mr Mariner's grandparents operated a bus company in Savaii and it was not until recently, Mr Mariner started his company in Upolu.

Aleipata Bus Company owner, Fa’apalo Toomalatai provided bus services for the villages of Aleipata, Lalomanu and some parts of Lefaga.

“Our buses travel long distances and I think we are the only ones that travel as far. Our buses travel miles from Aleipata and Lalomanu to the Apia town area,” Mr. Toomalatai said.

“We have been doing this business for quite long time, despite the challenges we faced many years, the loss of our old man which is the rightful owner of the business, we never gave up in serving Samoa.

“COVID-19 pandemic was our hardest time. We would have only 20 passengers for long drives. We earned very little and it was a challenging time. Now we are faced with high fuel and spare part prices."

Bus companies have submitted a letter to the Land Transport Authority requesting for an increase in bus fares. According to the bus operators they are still awaiting a response.