Due to a shortage of drivers, passenger carriers cancelled a total of 19 bus routes on Friday, according to the website of the Road Transport Administration.
Among them, AS “Liepājas autobusu parks” cancelled 14 bus routes, AS “Nordeka” cancelled four routes, and SIA “Latvijas sabiedriskais autobuss” cancelled one route.
Cancelled routes from “Liepājas autobusu parks” included the Vaivadi–Mežsētas–Rīga route at 5:40 AM, the Rīga–Mežsētas–Vaivadi route at 6:50 AM, and the Jaunķemeri–Valteri–Spice–Rīga route at 7:10 AM. Other cancellations included routes between Rīga, Saldus, Liepāja, Daugmale, Kalniņi, and additional services throughout the day.
Also on Friday “Liepājas autobusu parks” route Riga-Daugmale-Kalniņi scheduled for 11:30 AM, the route Riga-Spice-Valteri-Jaunķemeri scheduled for 11:40 AM, and the route Kalniņi-Daugmale-Riga (Prāgas iela) scheduled for 12:30 PM have been cancelled.
“Liepājas autobusu parks” has also cancelled on Friday a route Jaunķemeri-Valteri-Spice-Rīga scheduled for 1:10 PM, a route Riga-Spice-Valteri-Jaunķemeri scheduled for 2:40 PM, a route Jaunķemeri-Valteri-Spice-Rīga scheduled for 4:10 PM and a route Riga-Spice-Valteri-Jaunķemeri scheduled for 5:40 PM.
“Nordeka” cancelled routes including Cekule–Sauriešu ciems–Rīga at 5:40 AM, Rīga–Upeslejas at 7:15 AM, Upeslejas–Rīga at 8:15 AM, and Rīga–Upeslejas at 4:40 PM.
Meanwhile, “Latvijas sabiedriskais autobuss” cancelled a 7:00 AM route from Siguļi–Carnikava–Ādaži–Rīga.
As previously reported by LETA, “Liepājas autobusu parks” had a turnover of 19.13 million euros in 2023, up 7% from the previous year, but posted losses of 1.48 million euros. Financial data for 2024 are not yet available.
The company was registered in 1991, with a share capital of 878 417 euros. According to “Firmas.lv,” 60.12% of its shares are owned by SIA “LAP1R,” indirectly controlled by the families of Andris Šķēle (67%) and Ainārs Šlesers (LPV) (33%), while 34.85% of shares are owned by the Liepāja municipality.
In 2023, “Latvijas sabiedriskais autobuss” had a turnover of 11.994 million euros, a 0.2% decrease compared to the previous year, but its profit tripled to 30 752 euros. The company was registered in 1996, with a share capital of 696 069 euros. It is owned by Malta-registered “Bus Group,” with Vitālijs Komars as the ultimate beneficial owner.
“Nordeka” had a turnover of 8.688 million euros in 2023, up 2.8%, and its losses were reduced 2.3 times to 1.188 million euros. The company was registered in 1991 and has a share capital of 4 633 672 euros. “Nordeka” is solely owned by SIA “NordBus Group,” which belongs to Genrihs Peršteins.