Bus ridership rises 6.1% in first half as daily passenger volume tops 665,000

The city’s public buses carried 120 million passengers in the first half of 2026, with average daily ridership reaching 665,100, up 6.12% year over year, according to the latest statistics from the Transport Bureau (DSAT).

The two local bus operators generated a combined MOP850 million in service revenue during the first six months of the year. Of this, MOP280 million came from fares paid by passengers, while government subsidies for discounted fares for senior citizens, people with disabilities and students amounted to MOP230 million.

The data also showed that bus services expanded during the second quarter. The average number of daily bus trips reached 10,231, representing an increase of more than 3% year over year.

Meanwhile, buses traveled an average of 160,200 kilometers per day, up 5.39% from a year earlier, indicating increased service frequency and coverage.

As of the end of June, the two operators had a combined fleet of 964 buses serving 85 routes, with 1,574 bus drivers.

Among major bus stops, the Praça Ferreira do Amaral bus stop had the highest number of routes, with 37 routes starting or stopping there. It was followed by the Lakeside Building stop, with 16 routes, and the Border Gate Terminal, with 15 routes.

The two public bus operators have added weekend and seasonal services to cope with increased summer passenger demand in the city center and Cotai.

Last month, the bureau confirmed that, in response to the anticipated surge in weekend ridership in the peninsula’s central district and Cotai, the city’s two public bus operators had introduced additional services, including routes 21AT and 26AT earlier this month and again in late August, route 15T on weekends and public holidays through November, and a seasonal extension of route N3 to Hac Sa Beach until August.