Payments Made for Air Travelers by Various Countries
In a move that has sparked controversy, the Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), has announced a 63 euro per month increase in the price of the Germany Ticket for 2026. This decision, contrary to the resistance of many critics and coalition agreement commitments, comes amidst a backdrop of shortcomings in German transport policy.
The Germany Ticket, a monthly pass for public transportation in Germany, has been in operation since May 2023. Its price initially stood at 49 euros a month, but it increased to 58 euros at the beginning of 2025. The federal government and the states each subsidise the ticket to the tune of 1.5 billion euros, but this is not sufficient to cover the losses.
The increase in the Germany Ticket price has been met with criticism from various quarters. Jens Hilgenberg, head of traffic policy at the German Environmental Aid, finds it not understandable that the government is breaking its coalition promises regarding the Germany Ticket price. Ramona Pop, president of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations, criticizes the rising cost of living and the additional burden of a more expensive ticket for many people.
Oliver Krischer, North Rhine-Westphalia's transport minister (Greens), has also criticized Schnieder for promising price stability and then making a quick exit from this promise. Michael Müller-Görnert, transport policy spokesman for the VCD, warns that climate-friendly mobility may no longer be saved.
The states reached an agreement on this increase at a special meeting in Munich. However, the transport companies are losing revenue due to the Germany Ticket because it is cheaper than most other regional subscriptions. To address this, until the next transport ministers' conference, a price index for a continuously increasing ticket price until 2034, adjusted for inflation, will be worked out.
The Germany Ticket is valid throughout Germany in regional and local transport, with around 14 million people using it. The 500 billion euro "Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality" is needed to provide the necessary funds, but there are still gaps in the financing of road and rail maintenance.
Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, has criticized Schnieder for announcing that the federal government will only contribute 1.5 billion euros per year until 2030, which may lead to an unstable customer price for the Germany Ticket. For 2026, the association of transport companies expects additional costs of around 800 million euros due to the Germany Ticket.
The controversy surrounding the Germany Ticket price increase highlights the challenges faced by German transport policy and the need for sustainable and equitable solutions.
