Following demands from the transport sector workers to increase passenger capacities, Minister of Transport Khaled Saif announced on Tuesday evening that as of Thursday, all modes of public transport can increase to 75 per cent capacity, instead of 50 per cent.

In another move to support the sector, the minister noted, fees owed by companies and individuals can be paid in instalments over a period of six months and the government will increase the operational life of the most-affected public transport vehicles for a year.

General Director of the Land Transport Regulatory Commission (LTRC) Salah Al Louzi announced in a statement on Wednesday said the decision to increase transport vehicle capacities came following a recommendation from Health Minister Saad Jaber.

Louzi explained that passengers also will be allowed to ride next to the drivers in yellow taxis and shared taxis, with two in the back seat.

Passengers will also be permitted to sit next to each other on double seats in transport vehicles, he said, reiterating the importance of wearing face masks. Any drivers who violate protocols will be fined. 

Previously, The Jordan Times had contacted President of the Transport Services and Taxi Owners Union Ahmad Abu Haidar to discuss the sector. Haider had said at the time that the 50 per cent load "did not bring in enough fares”.

He pointed out that shared taxi drivers in particular were demanding increased fares in order to be compensated for financial losses resulting from the lower passenger capacities being enforced by authorities.

On Wednesday, Abu Haidar said over the phone that the "only way” to see compensation for these losses and start generating income is to increase the load to 100 per cent and remove the partitions in transport vehicles enforced by authorities as a means of preventing the spread of the virus. 

Abu Haidar also said that, even at full capacity, passengers can still commit to wearing face masks and following sanitising procedures to prevent the spread of the virus.