Germany: Announced Bundeskartellamt investigation into Deutsche Bahn for alleged abuse of market power regarding possible obstacles to mobility platforms

On 28 November 2019, the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) announced that it had started an investigation into Deutsche Bahn (DB) for alleged abuse of market power regarding possible obstacles to mobility platforms. Mobility platforms empower users to access travel information, compare diverse transportation choices, and seamlessly purchase tickets via the internet or mobile applications. The Bundeskartellamt aims to investigate whether DB limits mobility platforms' advertising on various digital platforms and whether it imposes restrictions on discounts for DB tickets. The investigation will also determine if mobility platforms require access to real-time departure and delay data to offer innovative travel concepts.