Andorra Bus Firms Warn of Imminent Fare Hikes Amid Fuel Crisis
Bus operators Andbus and Hife face 20% cost surges from Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz closure, threatening passenger price increases within a.
Key Points
- Andbus expenses up 20%; fares to rise if crisis lasts another month.
- Hife costs 5-6% higher now, hikes inevitable at 10-12%.
- Conflict boosts diesel, tyres, electricity, and logistics expenses.
- Andbus lost €300k-350k from RN-20 closure, ineligible for aid.
Bus companies in Andorra are warning of imminent ticket price hikes as fuel costs continue to climb due to the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Andbus chief executive Dani Vinseiro told *Diari d'Andorra* that operating expenses have risen by 20% but have not yet been passed on to passengers. He cautioned that if the energy crisis persists for another month, the company will have no choice but to increase fares. Vinseiro added that while subsidies would be welcome, they are not currently under consideration.
Hife faces a parallel challenge. Its manager, Pilar Buscall, noted that costs per trip are now 5% to 6% higher, a level the firm can still absorb. However, she warned that hikes to 10-12% would force price adjustments. Buscall emphasised that diesel is not the only factor: the conflict has driven up logistics expenses, including tyres, electricity and other services, with indirect effects compounding the pressure.
Such increases are not unprecedented. Both companies raised fares after the Ukraine war and post-pandemic supply disruptions, when low baseline prices led to sharp rebounds.
Separately, Andbus reported losses of €300,000 to €350,000 from the recent RN-20 road closure. Vinseiro expressed regret that the firm was ineligible for government aid, stating it was beyond their control. Hife avoided losses by maintaining a shuttle service during the disruption.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: