Airport Bus Fare to Rise Next Month

Fares for limousine buses connecting Seoul and Incheon International Airport will rise next month.

The Seoul city said Monday that the bus fare will go up by an average 9.2 percent on Oct. 1. The fare for ordinary limousine buses between Seoul and Incheon airport will rise from 8,000 won to 9,000 won, while those linking Seoul and Incheon via Gimpo Airport will increase from 7,500 won to 8,000 won.

Bus fares between Gimpo and Incheon will rise from 4,500 won to 5,000 won, and that between Seoul and Gimpo will go up from 2,500 won to 3,000 won.

The fare for the deluxe limousine bus will also rise. For express buses between Seoul and Incheon, from 13,000 won to 14,000 won; for those connecting Seoul and Incheon via Gimpo, from 12,000 won to 13,000 won; for both those linking Gimpo and Incheon and those linking Seoul and Gimpo, from 6,000 won to 6,500 won.

``The current fares were set in August 2005. Considering various factors such as hiked oil price and highway tolls, we decided to raise the fares in two years after discussing with bus operators,'' a city official said.

Starting December, the city plans to allow passengers to pay the fares with transportation cards and all credit cards. Currently, only cash and Kookmin Bank credit card are accepted.