Passenger transport
| Anticipated market development / % | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| German passenger transport (based on pkm) | +1.0 | +1.0 |
As of January 2026.
Forecast for 2026 rounded to half percentage points.
The German passenger transport market was characterized by sustained growth in 2025. Growth is expected to continue in 2026. The development of demand for transport strongly depends on regulatory policy measures, economic developments and the associated mobility behavior of the population. Commuter traffic and business trips continue to be replaced by mobile working and digital communication in some cases.
Motorized individual transport is expected to continue to approach the pre-Covid-19 performance volume in 2026 without yet reaching this level. The high level of fuel prices is weighing on the segment.
In the case of domestic air transport, the announced reduction in the air traffic tax as of July 1, 2026, will eliminate at least some locational disadvantages. Although this may result in limited impetus for the market, it is expected to remain well below pre-Covid-19 levels.
Public road passenger transport is expected to increase slightly in 2026, but will be affected by strikes as in the previous year. Long-distance bus services are stagnating and remain well below pre-Covid-19 levels.
Rail passenger transport is expected to see growth in volume sold. This will be largely driven by long-distance transport, while local transport is likely to see only a slight increase at a high level. The main drivers of the development in long-distance transport are supply-side measures, while the Germany-Ticket in particular is contributing to the positive development in demand for local transport despite a further price increase.