Thessaloniki school bus compensation increase approved for 16,500 students

Greek ministries approved a rise in the minimum compensation for school‑bus transport in the Thessaloniki regional unit. The increase, driven by a proposal from Antiperiarch Kostas Gioutikas, will apply to 16,500 pupils – including 1,200 students with disabilities – for the upcoming school year. New rates raise the per‑route payment from €107.98 to €132.98 for trips without an escort and from €121.55 to €156.98 for trips with an escort, with similar hikes for small‑bus services.

The change follows two previous tenders that failed because the offered fees were deemed unprofitable by bus operators. A third, three‑year competition will be announced on 7 August, giving operators a chance to bid under the higher rates. Gioutikas thanked Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios and other officials for their swift response, noting that the adjustment should enable the regular start of school routes on time.