Bus operator says support needed to avoid lay-offs

The operator of two bus firms is hoping for wage support to avoid laying-off staff as bus passenger numbers plummet. Bravo Transport Services runs CityBus and New World First Bus, and has seen ridership plunge more than 40 percent amid Covid restrictions.

Even before the fifth wave began, the company said monthly losses were HK$25 million.

“The last thing we want to do is be making any front-line staff redundant, or laying them off, particularly when we come out of this crisis we’ll need those drivers,” said Bravo’s CEO, Adam Leishman.

“We’ll also ask the government to consider a temporary moratorium on any government payments.”

Leishman said the tolls paid to the government each month, roughly equated to the amount the company had been losing.