Professionals in sector say intercity bus passengers down by 60 per cent in 2020

A top professional in the intercity bus travel sector has said “Covid-19 epidemic has affected the number of intercity bus passengers quite a lot. In 2020, the number of intercity passengers decreased by 60 percent compared to 2019.”

An official of the Turkey Bus Companies Federation (TOFED) made a statement saying, many measures had been taken with the start of the epidemic. He added, “For a certain period limitation was brought to , inter-city travel within the scope of coronavirus measures. Thereafter, our services were resumed with a capacity of 50 percent. However, the number of passengers decreased with the pandemic.”

The number of daily services went down to 30 during the period intercity travel was subject to permission and after the restriction was lifted number of daily services  went up to 1200 per day.

The official also noted following: “Number of our bus services have gone down drastically. Services were reduced shortly before Christmas. The number of services increased to 500 with New Year’s Eve mobility. As part of the coronavirus measures, the number of daily services falls to the 100s on days when restrictions are in place over the weekend. The outbreak of the new type of coronavirus has greatly affected the number of intercity bus passengers. In 2020, the number of intercity passengers decreased by 60 percent compared to 2019. Previously, we made 1500 runs with the lowest full capacity in the winter months, but now we can’t even fill 50 percent capacity. Companies need to serve at full capacity again to reduce their losses during the epidemic period.”