Fare reduction of KRW `1,000 per trip for limousine buses traveling between Incheon International Airport and Gunpo or Ansan in 2016

◇ On December 21, 2015, Gyeonggi Province announced that Gyung Gi Airport Limousine (Gunpo↔Incheon International Airport) and Taehwa Sangwoon (Ansan↔Incheon International Airport), which are airport bus operators with restricted licenses, will reduce bus fares by KRW 1,000 for their services beginning January 1, 2016. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Fares for airport limousine buses from Ansan and Gunpo to Incheon International Airport will be reduced by KRW 1,000 in 2016. 

On December 21, Gyeonggi Province announced that Gyung Gi Airport Limousine (Gunpo↔Incheon International Airport) and Taehwa Sangwoon (Ansan↔Incheon International Airport), which are airport bus operators with restricted licensea, will reduce bus fares by KRW 1,000 for their service beginning on January 1, 2016.

Civil complaints regarding airport bus service providers were constantly filed due to their relatively high fares.

Accordingly, Governor Nam suggested at a weekly policy meeting held in May of 2015 that the fares set by airport bus operators with restricted licenses need to reduce. As such, Gyeonggi Province’s Bus Policy Division has been engaged in constant talks to reach an agreement with the bus service providers.

Gyeonggi Province Bus Policy Division Director Hong Gwi-seon said, “Since 2001, there were grounds to increase bus fares including high oil prices, but the fares were never adjusted upward or downward. Therefore, the fact that we’re reducing bus fares next year is more significant.” Hong added, “We will continue our efforts to improve service quality for the convenience of bus passengers.”

Gyeonggi Province explained that the bus fare reduction reflected: transportation cost reductions stemming from sustained low oil prices; and improved operating profits thanks to the increased number of passengers. 

In particular, the province expects airport limousine service users to save approximately KRW 700 million in total annually. 

To assure service improvement, Gyeonggi Province also: made adjustments on 16 routes (altering existing routes for seven lines, adding bus stops for two lines, and increasing the number of operating buses for seven lines); renovated bus stops and waiting areas; and replaced 23 airport limousine buses with new models.

In 2016, Gyeonggi Province plans to continue its efforts to improve airport bus services by offering 39 new airport limousine buses, and formulating comprehensive assessment criteria regarding license renewals of airport limousine bus providers with restricted licensea.

In the province, 20 routes are currently operated by three airport limousine bus service providers with restricted licenses. 

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Kim Jin-kyoung jinkyoungkim@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201512211014137055C048&s_code=C048