Turkish minibus and bus operators demand fare increases as fuel costs soar

In Eskişehir, the president of the Minibus Drivers Association, Yılmaz Durul, told mayor Ayşe Ünlüce that rising diesel, tire, parts and labour expenses force the sector to request a 60‑lira fare increase and revised routes for several lines. He emphasized that the association’s priority is to maintain service quality for passengers and asked the municipality to resolve platform congestion at the city hospital and approve new stop revisions.

In Ankara, the Private Public Bus Operators Association, led by President Ercan Soydaş, issued a statement saying that successive fuel price hikes, maintenance costs and the burden of free travel cards have made the current fare structure unsustainable. The group called for an update to the fare tariffs and for government intervention, arguing that private operators cannot be expected to absorb municipal‑funded transport costs.

Both groups argue that the financial pressure threatens continued service and seek higher fares or other support to offset the sharp rise in operating costs.