Starting from Dec. 1st, 2013, Beijing airport shuttle bus fare was adjusted from the single price to flexible prices based on the real mileage. The former single pricing policy has lasted for 17 years. After the fare adjustment this time, the minimum price will be RMB15.00/person and the maximum price will be RMB24.00/person.
According to the municipal development and reform commission, the new pricing system of Beijing airport shuttle bus will be linked to the mileage. The final price will be decided by both the number of passengers and the mileage. The benchmark rate of Beijing airport shuttle bus is RMB0.60/person/mile. The upper limit of price increase is 20% and there is no lower limit for the price decrease.
The fare of each airport shuttle bus line is determined by the operating companies themselves in accordance with the regulations of this new pricing policy. The bus companies are not allowed to implement the new prices until they report their fares to the civil aviation administration for approval.
Before this adjustment, the price of Beijing airport shuttle bus was RMB16.00/person, which was laid down in 1996. No change was made during the past 17 years. Due to the recent cost increase on oil and others, many bus running companies are in red ink. The municipal development and reform commission says that they fully consider the psychological bearing capacity of the passengers on the price adjustment. This time, the benchmark rate for each airport shuttle bus line is only RMB0.6/person/mile. The fare itself does not go up by 20%, compared with the benchmark rate. Meanwhile, the municipal development and reform commission also requires the bus companies to adjust the price under the principle of no more than once per year.
Regarding the impact of this price adjustment, the municipal development and reform commission thinks that the average bus fare after the adjustment is about RMB21.00/person, which means the average cost increase for one passenger is only RMB5.00 or so.
