Lufthansa Industry Solutions has developed a technical solution for the introduction of the ticket “under high pressure”, it said. The necessary software upgrade is now “available immediately so that the conversion and introduction process can begin”. One of the biggest challenges in the systems is the “nationwide legibility of the Deutschlandticket” – because it should apply everywhere.

At a special conference on Tuesday, the transport ministers of the federal and state governments again discussed the Deutschlandticket, which is to be introduced as a successor to the nine-euro ticket from the summer. A start at the turn of the year was actually planned, but this schedule cannot be kept. According to the agreement between the ministers, the 49-euro ticket is now expected to start on April 1st.

The conference justified the delay with organizational and legal preparations that were still necessary. Above all, however, the question is open as to how possible additional costs are to be divided between the federal and state governments, which go beyond the three billion euros per year planned so far.

The CDU transport politician Thomas Bareiß explained that the financing of the ticket was still “completely unclear”. The Union faction wants to know the current status of implementation and has therefore invited Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) to report to the Transport Committee. “The members of the Bundestag have many unanswered questions and time is short.”