Rising fuel costs push travellers from cars to buses as ticket prices remain low

Soaring fuel prices have led many Finnish travellers to abandon private cars in favour of long-distance buses, though operators warn that profitability is under strain, reports public broadcaster Yle.

A one-way bus ticket from Pori to Helsinki can cost as little as €9, while the same trip by car now exceeds €30 at current fuel prices—depending on vehicle efficiency. The price gap has prompted travellers like Pinja Uusitalo of Pori to opt for buses. “We have a diesel car, and with fuel so expensive, the bus is cheaper,” she said after paying €7 for her recent trip.

Flixbus communications chief Natalia Sochacka confirmed that fuel costs are squeezing margins but said the company has no immediate plans to raise fares. Dynamic pricing keeps some routes particularly affordable during off-peak times. “Public transport is now more attractive to customers,” she noted.

Susanna Teelmäki from Kankaanpää switched from driving to an Onnibus coach for her Helsinki trip, citing both cost and convenience. “You don’t have to drive yourself, and you arrive right in the city centre,” she said. Others, like Marko Nummi, still prefer cars when possible but avoid Helsinki’s traffic: “I just don’t like driving there—it’s chaotic.”

The Finnish Bus and Coach Association is urging the government to act quickly, calling for fuel subsidies or tax relief. “We expect a decision within days on how to address these record fuel costs,” said director Mika Mäkilä, warning that operators’ profitability is already at risk despite rising passenger numbers.