The Netherlands Conditionally Clears Travel App Deal

Mobility service provider Pon en Dutch Railways NS are conditionally allowed to create travel app together.

Dutch Railways NS and Pon are allowed to create a new company, which will operate an app that allows consumers to plan, book and pay for their trips, combining different modes of transportation. 

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has cleared this joint venture on the condition that NS offers its train services and the bikes in its bike-rental system (OV-fiets) to the new company’s competitors under the same terms and conditions. In that way, other companies will also be able to create competitive travel apps, and it will ensure that sufficient competition between travel apps will continue to exist, now and in the future.

The new joint venture will house both Hely’s and Next’s activities. This new company wishes to make it as easy as possible for consumers to plan, book, and pay for a trip from their doorstep to their destination. They wish to develop an app in which consumers are able to combine different modes of transportation. In addition to the transit services of NS, Pon and its subsidiaries, transit services of other companies will also be included in the app.

Full Content: Authority for Consumers & Markets, Global Competition Review

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