ECTAA welcomes the changes to improve rail transport but also issues a warning
European Commission new The package of measures aims to encourage sustainable travel, primarily through better integration of rail transport and combined forms of travel.. Although the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Association (ECTAA) welcomes these changes, it simultaneously issues a serious warning. If the legal solutions are not carefully crafted, instead of an open market, we could end up with new digital monopolists who will threaten independent travel agents.
Opening up railway data as an opportunity for travel tech
At the heart of the new legislative package lies the regulation of rail ticketing. ECTAA believes that the introduction of so-called FRAND terms (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms) could fundamentally change the way agencies and technology platforms access rail transport data.
For Agency operations This means equal access to train reservation systems across Europe. Modern travellers no longer just look for a flight or hotel accommodation; they want a transparent comparison and the ability to combine different modes of transport on one platform. If independent distributors are granted the right to transparent data access, this will encourage innovation in the development of multimodal solutions, which is a direct opportunity for TMC and travel tech companies.
The risk of creating “super-competitors” in the distribution market
The problem arises with the provision that obliges large national rail carriers to open their sales channels to the services of their direct competitors in order to increase their visibility. ECTAA warns of a dangerous side effect of this decision. Instead of strengthening market competition, platforms owned by dominant state carriers could become central places for purchasing all tickets, turning into “super-competitors”.
Given that these carriers already possess immense brand recognition and user bases, independent travel agencies and intermediaries, which are mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, will struggle to compete with such digital giants. The loss of neutral distribution channels would reduce transparency for end consumers in the long term, as dominant players would once again control market conditions.
The Ryanair case as a warning for air transport
The Secretary General of the ECTAA association, Eric Drésin, points out that similar problems with distribution and damage to competition have been occurring in the aviation sector for years. As a clear example, he cites recent disputes involving Ryanair in Italy, where airlines impose unfavourable commercial conditions on independent distributors.
Therefore, the industry considers it wrong that strict rules on fair access to data are applied exclusively to railways. Concentration of power is extremely high across the entire transport sector, while distribution is fragmented. If the European Commission wants to create a functional multimodal market, the same rules of the game must apply to airlines and other forms of mobility, not just railway operators.
European regulators must now thoroughly analyse the long-term impact of these decisions so that the new rules do not inadvertently destroy independent distribution and leave control over European travel in the hands of a few transport giants.
