The fuel crisis hits hard: the bus operator speaks of a knockout blow
Created: 03/10/2022, 16:13
By: Michael Acker
The Ukraine war caused fuel prices to explode (symbol image) © Marijan Murat / dpa
Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine has had a dramatic impact on the German economy.
Petrol and diesel are more expensive than ever.
Company caught the price explosion with full force.
The bus industry even speaks of a knockout.
District - About 25 cars are on the streets of Grasbrunn, Vaterstetten and Zorneding for the neighborhood help in Vaterstetten (NBH) every day.
They cover around 300,000 kilometers a year – for mobile care and the mobile lunch table, which mainly provides meals for the elderly.
There is no question that the current fuel price is tearing a deep hole in the cash register.
Neighborhood help at a loss: what should we do?
"But what should we do?" asks Chairman Franz Pfluger, "we deal with people who rely on us every day".
If the price of gas stays the same, you will be forced to raise prices, says Pfluger.
Together with the NBH managing director Oliver Westphalen, he hopes that donations will absorb part of the additional costs.
But the amount of donations is also declining at the moment because of the Ukraine war.
Bus entrepreneur: Actually, we're at the end
The bus companies in the Ebersberg district are also facing extremely difficult times.
On Thursday, March 10th, the representatives of six companies met in the district office to coordinate further action and to speak with one voice when it comes to school bus transport.
"Actually, we're at the end of it," admits Josef Ettenhuber from the Glonner bus company of the same name.
"Actually, you should stop, it just doesn't pay off anymore."
The Ukraine war and the exploding fuel prices are the knockout blow in school bus transport, which has been too cheap for other reasons for decades.
His colleague Andreas Höher, owner of the bus company of the same name in Moosach, helps him.
Normal fluctuations in the price of diesel can be "covered up", but what is currently happening can no longer be shouldered.
"Right now we have to bring money to drive the school bus," says Hoeher.
This means that the municipalities and the district will have to adjust to paying companies more money for school transport.
Hoeher, who operates three school bus lines, says that the municipality of Kirchseeon has already offered an increase.
"That is to be commended."
The coach business is also difficult.
He has to add 350 to 400 euros per 1000 kilometers compared to previous costs, says Höher.
Nevertheless, he does not want to turn the price screw at the moment.
His program is very well booked, people rely on the agreed prices.
Josef Ettenhuber from Glonn also says: "The fuel price is not passed on to the customer." In travel, the costs are covered by the passengers.
In other words, it's better to have a full bus at the old prices than a half-empty one because the prices have gone up.
Consequence for him and his colleagues: The entrepreneurial profit is smaller.
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You can read more news from the region here.
By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter.
