Public Transport Association demands higher incomes

Abstract

In 2004, Malta's Public Transport Association (PTA) has been demanding higher subsidies from the government in order to make up for the increased expenses of its members that own and operate bus routes. Its demands are viewed as unreasonable by the government, and PTA started limited industrial action during August. In Malta, there are currently 508 licensed buses. All 430 owners are members of the Public Transport Association (PTA (http://www.atp.com.mt/)) which is registered as an employers’ association and is mainly concerned with the scheduling of its members' work. There are 91 scheduled routes covering Malta and, according to PTA, only 35 of these are viable. The profitable routes have to make up for the non-profitable ones. Public transport in Malta is among the cheapest in Europe. Unlike other service providers, bus owners cannot increase bus fares without the approval of the cabinet. Successive governments have managed to keep passenger fares low by giving bus owners subsidies, grants and exemptions from duties.