MINIBUS fares in the country will remain unchanged for the time being, according to the Fiji Minibus Operators Association.
Association spokesman Epineri Waqabaca told The Fiji Times this week the decision not to change the fare structure was made after stakeholders met last week.
"Though it is uneconomical, we have decided not to change the fares at the moment," Mr Waqabaca said.
He earlier told this newspaper they would make a submission to the LTA asking for a decrease in fares because they faced competition from luxury coaches on the Suva-West routes.
"If we decrease the fares we don't know whether passengers will travel by minibus. It's a risk and our industry could collapse," he said.
Mr Waqabaca said they would only decrease their fares if bus fares went up.
He said minibuses servicing the Nausori-Suva corridor would continue to charge $1.50 while the Suva-Nadi fare would remain at $17 and Suva-Lautoka at $18.
Meanwhile the LTA has made it clear the fare structure for minibuses had been deregulated and there were no legal guidelines.
Authority CEO Naisa Tuinaceva earlier said it was not necessary for the association to make a submission to the LTA to adjust its fares because it had the flexibility to do so. However, he said operators needed to align their fares to that of buses so they did not lose their passengers.
Mr Tuinaceva also confirmed receiving a submission from the association asking that fares be regulated.
"We're in the process of reviewing their submission and they'll be notified accordingly," he said.