Five AKAP Bus Companies Cease Operations Before Mudik Season, What's the Reason?

Five bus operators in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan, serving the Samarinda–Bontang and Samarinda–Sangatta routes, have been forced to suspend operations ahead of the Eid holiday travel season.

“These five operators comprise two serving the Samarinda–Bontang route and three operating the Samarinda–Sangatta service in Kutai Timur Regency,” said Lempake Terminal Coordinator Suharyanto in Samarinda on Wednesday, 17 March 2026.

The non-operating operators for the Samarinda–Bontang route are Bus Gelora and Damri. For the Samarinda–Sangatta route, the suspended services are Bus Suma Karya, Damri, and Bus Tujuh Saudara.

Suharyanto noted that whilst these operators still hold valid route permits for both the Samarinda–Bontang and Samarinda–Sangatta bidirectional services, they have ceased operations due to continuously declining passenger numbers over recent years.

“Several years ago, PO Tujuh Bersaudara also operated here but stopped because passenger numbers deteriorated significantly. Now PO Tujuh Bersaudara has merged with Jahe Raya under the same ownership, becoming PO Putra Jahe,” said Suharyanto.

He stated that bus route permits are issued every five years, with operators typically renewing permits when passenger traffic remains robust. However, due to declining passenger numbers in recent years, the imbalance between operational costs and revenue has forced many operators to cease operations.

According to valid intercity bus route permits at Lempake Terminal Samarinda for the Samarinda–Bontang route, only three operators remain active: PO Bone Indah Jaya, Arafat Jaya, and PO Sapu Lidi.

For the Samarinda–Sangatta route, four operators remain active: PO Putra Jahe, Bone Indah Jaya, Arafat Jaya, and PO Setia Mas.

“In the past when passenger traffic was strong, each route had at least 35 buses with passenger loads exceeding 20 persons per vehicle,” he said.