After one year, ticket prices for public transportation have risen again — this time by 10 qapik (20%). Officials justify the increase as part of efforts to upgrade capacity by purchasing new trains and buses. However, the decision has sparked criticism as soon as it was announced. The change is already in force, and passengers have no choice but to pay the new rates. Still, they have the right to expect higher service quality in return. But how does this price increase affect passengers’ daily expenses?
“I leave for work at 8:00 every morning. Sometimes I have to change transport three times. First, I go to the Ahmadli metro station. I used to spend 1.50 AZN on my commute to work. Including the return trip, that made it 3.00 AZN per day. But now I have to spend 3.60 AZN for the same journey.
I take the metro to reach work, and the same price increase applies there too. The ticket now costs 60 qapik, which impacts the budget of citizens who rely on public transport daily.
From the 20 Yanvar metro station to my workplace at İctimai TV, there’s still about a 20-minute walk. It’s not a problem for me because I’m young, but it can be difficult for elderly people. That’s why they’re often forced to use a third mode of transport, which means extra costs for them.”
In the past two years, public transportation fares in Azerbaijan have risen twice. In 2023, ticket prices for both bus and metro increased from 30 qapik to 40 qapik. A year later, in mid-2024, they rose again by 10 qapik to reach 50 qapik. From the beginning of this month, the fare has been set at 60 qapik. This latest price hike applies only to the metro and modern-standard buses.
Passenger opinions vary. Some are recalculating their household budgets, while others view the recent developments in public transport as a positive modernization step.
But what made this increase necessary?
According to the Azerbaijan Ground Transportation Agency (AYNA), the reason is to upgrade capacity (buying new trains and buses) and improve service quality. Economists, however, argue that such projects require substantial financial support, which puts additional pressure on the state budget.
In a market economy, price adjustments are normal — and sectors like transportation and infrastructure are no exception. These are capital-intensive fields, requiring constant investment, which often leads to fare reviews.
In recent years, new modern buses have been introduced. Yet passengers ask:
Should we have to pay more for vehicle renewal and promised service quality improvements?
Economist Rashad Hasanov explains:
“In Azerbaijan, the state monopoly in mass transportation receives substantial subsidies and financial support for capacity expansion and maintenance. However, there’s also a private sector component. If clear regulations ensuring operational efficiency are not established, entrepreneurs lose interest in staying in the market. They might even withdraw from it.”
Over the past two years, public transportation fares have steadily increased.
But has service quality in buses and metros actually improved?
Hasanov adds:
“We observe the introduction of new-generation vehicles in Baku’s suburban areas. This can be seen as a slight improvement in service quality. However, it remains questionable whether these changes meet the targeted standards — or those seen in developed countries. Many of Azerbaijan’s transport issues stem from the inefficiency of policies implemented in this sector.”
AYNA states that renewing 400 buses annually is planned, supported by these fare adjustments.
Emin Majidov, head of AYNA’s Public Transport Department, said:
“This change affects only about 9% of bus lines nationwide and 30% of lines in Baku. The tariff adjustment will help stimulate fleet renewal and accelerate bus upgrades by operator companies.”
Many countries offer public transportation discounts. For instance, in Istanbul, people over 65 and individuals with disabilities travel for free. Students in many countries also benefit from discounted travel cards. In some places, a single ticket is valid for a set duration — for example, one hour. However, in Azerbaijan, such measures are not yet under discussion.
Majidov added:
“To implement such systems, we must first achieve 100% cashless payment coverage. Currently, it’s available on about 80% of bus lines. Once we reach full cashless payment coverage, discussions on these reforms can move forward.”
Meanwhile, Baku Metro — which also supported the fare increase — announced that new metro stations will be built under the state program. The opening of one new station is planned for 2026, along with the purchase of new train cars and the renovation of existing infrastructure.
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