All the bus lines operating between Yangon and Myeik in Taninthyai Region are making loses with a bus losing about 1.5 million kyats for a return journey as local fuel prices soar, according to bus owners.

They said fuel price hikes coupled with fewer passengers have made all the highway bus lines for the routes of Yangon-Dawei-Myeik-Kawthaung.

Particularly, about 1.5 million kyats could be lost when a bus runs for a route of 550 miles from Yangon to Myeik and then back.

“The bus lines are operating as normally as ever. But they are making losses. To maintain regular customers and prevent staff from losing their jobs, the buses are still running by enduring their losses. Now, a bus loses about Ks1.5 million for a return journey,” said an official from Myeik District Private Bus Operation Supervisory Committee. 

Currently, a bus ticket for Yangon-Myeik is priced at Ks40,000, and the price has yet to be increased despite fuel price hikes.

A bus owner said: “We are making loses as local gasoline prices are exorbitantly high, but we have fewer passengers. A minibus has to run with only about seven passengers. The other day, we had to go to Yangon with only two passengers.”  

A committee official said their difficulties had been reported to the government but no reply has come.

There are 53 Yangon-Myeik bus lines—25 based in Myeik and 28 based in other areas.