Business View Caribbean - Apr 2024

“When the pandemic arrived, we were struck with a staggering 95% drop in our passenger numbers,” he recalls. The shutdown of borders and the halting of tourism—a lifeline for the island—resulted in a near-total collapse of ridership. “Hotels shuttered, shops closed, and our buses ran empty,” he continues, painting a grim picture of those initial weeks. The government, however, accentuated the essential nature of Arubus’s service, particularly for those in the medical field. “There was a moment we considered halting our services,” Mohamed admits. “But the government insisted on continuing operations to ensure medical workers could reach their workplaces.” In response, Arubus pared its services to what Mohamed describes as a “skeleton schedule,” significantly reducing bus frequencies but keeping the wheels turning for critical healthcare transportation needs. During this period of reduced operation, Arubus seized the opportunity to overhaul its schedule.“We were already revamping our schedule,” Mohamed explains, “and the pandemic presented a unique window to implement these changes thoroughly.” This strategic pivot became a reevaluation of how Arubus could serve its community more efficiently, even in adversity. “Post-pandemic, we rolled out the new schedule we had crafted during those quieter months,”Mohamed shares. This wasn’t just a return to normalcy but a leap towards an improved service model, refined through the lessons learned during the pandemic’s peak. Nevertheless, Mohamed clarifies that the fare structure remained unchanged.“We maintained our fare system throughout the pandemic,” he states, highlighting benefits such as reduced fares for card subscribers and free rides for seniors. STRATEGIC FLEXIBILITY OF ROUTES AND SCHEDULES In the wake of the pandemic, Arubus N.V. took decisive steps to reassess and redefine its routes and schedules to better serve the evolving needs of Aruba’s population and its economic pillars, including the critical tourism sector and educational facilities. 52 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 04