No buses in Akureyri this summer
Akureyri bus users will have to make other arrangements this summer. Photo: Skapti
The Akureyri Bus Company will be halting all services between 15 July and 15 August. The company, which provides public transport services in Akureyri (Northern Iceland), has not be able to take on enough temporary staff to cover summer absences.
Tourism to blame
Helgi Már Pálsson, an Akureyri town-council official, puts the scarcity of temporary workers down to increasing levels of tourism in the town. “People are presumably looking for higher pay with employees in the tourism industry. […] We have tried to find a solution but we can’t operate without drivers. Buses don’t drive themselves,” Pálsson explains.
Six temporary workers were needed to keep Akureyri’s four lines going, but only 2.5 positions were filled. Pálsson says there is a clear correlation between tourist numbers and recruitment problems.
