RegioJet is demanding that its rival in the Czech transport market, FlixBus, terminate its allegedly unfair business practices, and has taken the matter to the European Parliament. Photo: @BrnoDaily
Brno, May 29 (BD) – Radim Jančura, owner of RegioJet, is reported to have sent a letter before action (“předžalobní výzva”) to FlixBus, demanding that it increase its bus fares both in the Czech Republic and abroad, read Czech news website Aktuálně yesterday (“Jančurův RegioJet se brání nízkým cenám FlixBusu. Přestaňte jezdit pod náklady, vyzývá”).
Flixbus allegedly operates its buses at prices that cover only slightly more than half of the costs of operation despite entering the Czech market nine months ago, RegioJet claimed in a press release.
Aktuálně cited RegioJet spokesman Aleš Ondrůj in reporting that RegioJet has contacted European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager.
FlixBus has yet to receive the letter and considers its business practices to be fair and within the law, said spokeswoman Martina Čmielová according to Aktuálně.
According to a Prague.TV article published yesterday (“Regiojet Complains About Flixbus Pricing”), “[earlier this year,] RegioJet accused its green competitor of predatory behavior in the market and said it was preparing a lawsuit.”
RegioJet is a brand of bus transport that began operations in spring 2016 and is operated by Student Agency. There is a train service by the same name, introduced in 2009, that is also run by Student Agency.
“The name Student Agency (founded in 1996) was dropped for buses as people do not need to be students to use them,” Prague.TV explained in yesterday’s article.
Flixbus is currently expanding rapidly across Europe and is about to make its biggest strategic and geographical leap by “launching its data-driven bus service in the United States,” VentureBeat media company reported on May 15 (“Germany’s data-driven FlixBus launches in the U.S. to make bus travel cool again”).
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