Decision to Halt Services of Private Public Buses in Istanbul (April 2025)

On 14 April 2025, the Istanbul Private Public Buses Chamber announced the suspension of private public bus services across Istanbul. The decision was justified by unpaid dues from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), worsening economic conditions, and the unsustainable nature of the service.

^{Representative image of İBB private public buses (Image generated by artificial intelligence.)}

In a statement issued by the Istanbul Private Public Buses Chamber of Commerce, it was stated that private public bus operators have not received regular payments from the İBB for over five years. The statement noted that delays in municipal payments have reached three to four months, resulting in total outstanding claims exceeding 5 billion Turkish liras.

It was reported that operators have continued providing services despite economic fluctuations, fuel price increases, and rising operational costs. Under current conditions, the inability to pay for fuel and staff salaries has rendered public transportation activities financially unsustainable.

The Istanbul Private Public Buses Chamber of Commerce stated that it had repeatedly sought dialogue with the İBB to resolve the payment crisis, but each initiative was met with delays. The statement emphasized that meetings with officials produced no results, making the suspension of transport services an unavoidable necessity.

In the announcement made on 14 April, it was declared that private public bus services across Istanbul would be suspended. The decision was described not as a threat but as a necessary measure forced by the impossibility of continuing service under current conditions. The statement referenced the phrase “Either a solution is found or Istanbul’s public transportation system collapses,” underscoring that the crisis has reached a scale threatening the overall functioning of the public transport system.