With most people looking to travel abroad on limited budgets, traveling by bus used to be popular. This is no longer the case and it seems bus companies are clearly struggling to keep pace.
Prior to budget airlines, flights to Syria, Lebanon or Jordan would cost anything between SR1,200 and SR1,600, whereas traveling by bus would cost SR500. However, budget airlines are now offering ordinary people the opportunity to fly cheaply, quickly and comfortably.
The Kingdom’s two budget airlines — Sama and Nas Air — appeared in March 2007. These airlines offer cheap fares, which often work out only a few hundred riyals more than bus tickets, something that has led to bus companies dropping fares.
Khawla Abdulrzaq, a Syrian housewife and mother of two, is planning to travel to Damascus next month. She used to travel to Syria by bus but then switched to flying when budget airlines were introduced.
“In the past we used to travel by bus to Damascus and pay SR500 per person, which brings the total to SR2,000. At that time, if I traveled by air it would have cost me SR4,500 for the entire family,” she said.
Abdulrzaq now pays around SR2,400 to Damascus, which is just a few hundred riyals more than traveling by bus.
Naeem Al-Boushi, a Syrian investor and owner of Al-Raqia Buses Company, which operates in Jeddah, Damascus and Amman, said budget airlines have affected his business. “The number of buses going from Jeddah to Syria has decreased from seven to three and sometimes two a week because of the low-cost airlines,” he said.
He added that many people prefer to travel by air, which is easy, less arduous and quick. It takes 24 hours to get to Damascus and Beirut by bus and 10 hours to Amman in Jordan, he said.
“Some people prefer to pay a little more and travel by air to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon rather than spend 8 to 20 hours on a bus,” added Al-Boushi.
“There is a large number of people traveling to Syria, Lebanon, Dubai and Egypt this year. Passengers who make early reservations can enjoy special offers and pay SR600 for a round trip per person,” said a Nas Air employee.
Nevertheless, traveling by air can have some drawbacks. People who do not book early can end up having to pay extra money for bookings.
Meanwhile, to attract customers, some bus companies, like SAPTCO (Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company), have decreased prices to both foreign and domestic locations.
“Six years ago it would cost SR250 to travel to Syria and Jordan one way. We noticed the declining numbers of passengers, especially expatriate families. The management then decided to decrease international prices and we now charge SR150 to Syria and Jordan and SR30 to SR60 for some local destinations. This decision was issued six months ago,” said a SAPTCO employee.
