The number of bus commuters jumped by almost a million between January and April this year compared to the same time last year.
Figures given in parliament show that patronage reached 12.6 million, an increase of 933,008.
39.4 million passengers used the service in the whole of last year - Arriva's last - a jump from 34 million in the previous year.
The figures were given by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi replying to a question by Nationalist MP Censu Galea.