Lux Express requests compensation for subsidized passengers

Lux Express has submitted an official request to the Ministry of Transport (MoT), asking for compensation for losses incurred due to providing fare discounts on commercial routes in Latvia, the company reported.

“This is already the second official letter to state institutions with such a request, considering that Lux Express has been operating commercial routes in Latvia for nearly a year now and transporting passengers eligible for state-granted travel discounts, but has not received any compensation,” said Aldis Ķibēns, board member of Lux Express Latvia.

Before launching commercial passenger transportation on the regional route Liepāja–Riga–Daugavpils in May of last year, Lux Express received verbal assurances from the Road Transport Administration (ATD) and the Ministry of Transport that the state would establish a compensation framework, Ķibēns noted, adding that more than a year has passed with no visible progress on this issue. Moreover, in February 2025, the ATD refused to grant compensation, citing the absence of legal regulations for calculating and disbursing such payments.

By the end of 2024, Lux Express, while dutifully providing passenger transport services — including for categories such as children, persons with disabilities, and others — had suffered significant losses exceeding €317,000.

In its submission to the Ministry of Transport, Lux Express stated that the compensation claim is based on European Union regulations and a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which obliges member states to reimburse public service providers for losses resulting from compliance with state-imposed benefits.

“We still hope that the Ministry of Transport will act in accordance with Latvian and European Union legal norms and ensure the payment of compensation as prescribed by law. Furthermore, we have invited the Minister of Transport to a meeting to discuss these matters as well as the development of commercial transport in Latvia and its positive impact on the national budget,” emphasized Aldis Ķibēns.

It was previously reported that in less than eight months last year, Lux Express transported more than 200,000 passengers on domestic routes in Latvia. Between May and the end of the year, the company also transported over 10,000 foreign visitors within Latvia, bringing them to cities like Liepāja and Daugavpils. The largest number of tourists came from Estonia, followed by Germans and travelers from other countries. All routes on the Riga–Liepāja and Liepāja–Daugavpils lines are operated using “Irizar i6s Efficient” buses manufactured in 2023, offering one of the highest levels of comfort in the industry. Additionally, all buses are equipped with toilets, Wi-Fi, media screens (including Latvian-language content), and free hot beverages.