Bus companies operating in the Greater Buenos Aires (AMBA) area have announced that from this Wednesday, April 1st, they will reduce service frequencies. This is a consequence of the increase in diesel fuel costs and the lack of updates to offset these higher costs in their revenues. According to the Argentine News Agency, the measure will affect both national and provincial jurisdiction lines, impacting routes connecting Buenos Aires City with the outskirts as well as other services in the metropolitan area. The decision was communicated by the Buenos Aires Province Transport Chamber (CTPBA), the Buenos Aires Province United Urban Transport Business Chamber (CEUTUPBA), the Passenger Transport Business Chamber (CEAP), and the Buenos Aires Urban Transport Business Chamber (CETUBA). In a joint statement, the entities stated that the fuel hike has made it unviable to maintain usual service levels and emphasized that the system's operation is at 'serious risk.' According to the chambers, the frequency reduction responds to the 'inability to sustain habitual service levels in the current context with current revenues,' amidst a surge in diesel costs and a lack of official responses to the sector's demands. In this context, they asked for users' understanding and demanded urgent measures to restore service normality. Meanwhile, the national government classified the business decision as a pressure tactic and warned that there will be controls over service provision and sanctions for companies that do not comply with established services. The tension occurs on the eve of a new tariff update: the Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Transport informed that from 0:00 on April 1st, new tables for urban and interurban provincial services in the AMBA will come into effect, adjusted according to the February IPC. This conflict opens a new front between companies and authorities in a system that has long been dragging on discussions about subsidies, cost structure, and service levels.
