FlixBus, the company offering long-distance bus services across various European countries, has reported restricted access to certain national terminals.
Following an investigation, the transport sector regulator concluded that there was no evidence of capacity limitations at the terminal. On the contrary, the availability of spaces was confirmed, particularly by the municipality of Lisbon.
Consequently, the entity led by Ana Paula Vitorino has mandated that the terminal operator must permit access to the German company FlixBus and any other operators requesting it, within the available schedules, without unjustified refusal.
The decision, announced today in a statement, also emphasizes the obligation for bus terminal managers nationwide to publish regulations containing updated information about terminal occupancy, available schedules, and allocation criteria. Violations of these rules will be considered infractions, warns the regulator.
“Transport terminal and public transport interface managers must allow transparent, equitable, and non-discriminatory access to all operators, and the relevant rules along with other necessary information must be included in their equipment regulations,” it further asserts.
Access can only be denied if there is proven incapacity to accommodate new services, with AMT being the competent authority to assess any unjustified refusals.
The decision will be communicated to the Competition Authority to determine whether there were anti-competitive practices, per applicable legislation.
The transport regulator also recalls that in January of this year, it approved a regulation establishing access rules and capacity allocation at bus terminals, noting the ineffective application or non-application of legal rules.
AMT underscores that terminals and transport interfaces are critical infrastructures for the passenger market’s development, with equitable access being essential to stimulate investment, expand mobility options, and promote territorial cohesion.
