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Other Key Points
1. Transport & sustainability - Developments on the legislations relevant to achieving the EU's climate targets
Multimodal Digital Mobility Services
After a longer than expected wait the Commission has shared intel on the highly anticipated Multimodal Digital Mobility Services regulation (MDMS).
The Commission's proposed strategy for simplifying travel booking has faced opposition from certain travel industry organizations. The opposition is based on the new MDMS not treating transport operators equally, as it will allow large airline groups and some public transport operators to avoid sharing data. According to latest information by the Commission, only airlines with an EU market share greater than 50% would be required to share their data, while railways with a domestic market share of over 50% would also be required to share data.
GBTA issued a joint statement along with multiple groups including the Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants, consumer group BEUC, and EU Travel Tech calling for a fairer MDMS ahead of its official publication in the next few months. View the GBTA statement here.
2. Other updates
More flights between Amsterdam
After the European Commission found that the Thalys rail link between the two cities had generated sufficient competition to justify the removal of long-standing restrictions, Air France will be able to offer more flights each day between Paris and Amsterdam. When the merger of the two airlines was approved in 2004, Air France and KLM had to give up six slots a day to their rivals to allay competition concerns. View more information here.
But overall, less flights at Schiphol
In response to the Dutch government's proposed cap on flight numbers, Schiphol Airport has announced its plan to decrease its yearly flights from 500,000 to 460,000. The cap is intended to curb noise and air pollution.
However, this decision has encountered strong opposition from a group of airlines, who are planning to take legal action against the Dutch government. The plan was announced on the 3rd of March by five airline groups, along with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the global trade body for the aviation sector. View more here.
France going big on rail
The French government has unveiled its "plan for the future of transport," which includes a substantial investment in the nation's rail system. Under this plan, the government has committed €100 billion to be invested in rail infrastructure until 2040, with €1 billion earmarked each year for repairing worn-out rail lines and an additional €500 million set aside for modernizing the network. To improve connectivity and fill gaps in service, the government also aims to expand the system with new lines and introduce a network of urban fast trains called RERs. View more here.
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