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Baden-Württemberg launches new budget transport ticket for young people

The southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg unveiled its new 'Jugendticket' on Wednesday, giving young people in the state unlimited travel for just €1 a day.

Baden-Württemberg Jugendtick
A press photo for the launch of the Jugendticket in Baden-Württemberg. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Schmidt

The budget transport ticket – which is initially due to run until 2025 – is aimed at both young people and students and trainees in the southern state. 

Young people can purchase it up to the age of 21, while those in further education or who are undertaking volunteer work can nab themselves a ticket until the age of 27. 

Both of these groups can purchase an annual travel card that will be valid on both regional and local transport throughout the state for €365 per year – or €1 per day. 

According to the state website, the ticket will also be accepted by every one of the 19 transport operators who are active in the state. 

Other states around Germany – including Bavaria and Hesse – have previously rolled out identical deals for youngsters in their state, while some regions offer comparable monthly tickets or discounts for students and young people. 

The plans for the Jugendticket were originally set out in the coalition agreement for Baden-Württemberg’s governing coalition – comprised of the CDU and the Green Party – after state elections in 2021. 

It was funded with a €327 million cash injection from the state, which covers 70 percent of the costs, and money from local district councils. 

READ ALSO: How employees in Germany could get a discount on the €49 ticket

From March 1st, young people and students can get hold of the Jugendticket at ticket office around Baden-Württemberg, but also have the option to get hold of an ‘E-ticket’ online.

The state website explains that students and young people who already have a subscription may be able to switch to the Jugendticket and get their money back for the remainder of their Abo.

However, this will apparently depend on which transport operator the subscription is with.

A €49 ticket rival?

The launch of the Jugendticket comes just two months before Germany is set to roll out its own nationwide travel offer: the €49 ‘Deutschlandticket’. 

The deal was conceived by German transport ministers as a budget-friendly successor to the hugely popular €9 ticket, which was available for three months last summer as an energy relief measure.

The new ticket enable people to travel all across Germany for a €49 rolling monthly Abo, and, much like its predecessor, will be valid for local and regional transport but not long-distance IC and ICE trains.

However, in recent weeks, student groups have criticised the deal for being too expensive and have called on the government to offer further discounts.

READ ALSO: ‘Deutschlandticket’: What you need to know about Germany’s new €49 travel ticket

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TRAVEL NEWS

Passengers in Germany urged to prepare for crowded airports over holiday weekend

German airports are expecting around 2.5 million passengers to be jetting off around the Whitsun holiday weekend.

Passengers in Germany urged to prepare for crowded airports over holiday weekend

The next major rush after Easter is coming up at German airports.

According to the airport association ADV, more than 2.5 million passengers are set to travel over the Whitsun long weekend. 

Whit Monday or Pfingstmontag on May 20th is a public holiday across Germany, meaning most people have the day off work while shops will be closed. As the holiday falls on Monday, Germans often take a trip to make the most of the long weekend – or even take some annual leave around this time to extend their time off. 

This year’s outlook on air passengers signals a five percent rise compared to last year. “The traffic development over the long Whitsun weekend shows that the desire for holiday travel is unbroken,” said ADV Managing Director Ralph Beisel.

Due to the rush, German airports are advising passengers to allow significantly more time to plan for their travel day.  

“For a relaxed start to their holiday, passengers should not only allow more time on the way to the airport on the day of departure, but also plan a time buffer for their stay at the airport,” said a spokesperson from Munich Airport.

Passengers are advised to check in online before departure and to use online check-in for their luggage along the drop-off counter at the airport if possible.

Airports have also urged people flying to cut down on the amount of hand luggage they take so that going through security is faster. 

Despite rising numbers, air traffic in Germany is recovering more slowly than in the rest of Europe since the Covid pandemic, according to the ADV.

Following the pandemic, location costs in Germany – in particular aviation security fees and air traffic tax – have doubled.

READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Germany in May 2024

“This is not without consequences,” said Beisel, of the ADV. “The high demand for flights from private and business travellers is offset by a weak supply from the airlines.”

READ ALSO: ‘Germany lacks a sensible airline policy’: Is budget air travel declining?

Passenger traffic at Frankfurt airport – Germany’s largest airport – in the first quarter of 2024 was also 15 percent below the pre-coronavirus year 2019.

In addition to snow and ice disruption at the start of the year, air travel from Frankfurt was particularly hit by various strikes, including by Lufthansa staff and other airport employees.

However, Fraport said it had increased its revenue in the first quarter of the year by around 16 percent to €890 million.

READ ALSO: Summer airport strikes in Germany averted as Lufthansa cabin crew reach pay deal

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