History of the conciliation body

The Schlichtungsstelle Reise & Verkehr e.V. was founded in 2009 under the name “Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr e.V.”. A lot has happened since then. Milestones are explained in the following timeline.

15 years of successful conciliation work for travelers and companies

15.07.2009
Foundation of the supporting association

Foundation of the Association of the Conciliation Board by seven railroad undertakings and one railroad association. The name of the association from 2009 to the end of 2023 was Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr e.V. (söp).
Mr. Edgar Isermann, former President of the Higher Regional Court (Braunschweig), will take over the management of the conciliation board.
Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Klewe is entrusted with the management.

01.12.2009
Start of conciliation work

The conciliation board begins its operational work.

21.06.2010
EU notification

The Federal Ministry of Justice notifies the conciliation body to the European Commission.

20.03.2013
First airline becomes a member

The first airline becomes a member of the conciliation body. A further 40 national and international airlines will join by the end of the year.

15.10.2013
Recognized conciliation body for the bus sector

Federal Government recognizes the conciliation body for the bus sector.

09.02.2015
Recognized conciliation body for the flight sector

The Federal Government recognizes the conciliation body for the flight sector.

08.06.2016
Recognized consumer conciliation body according to VSBG

Recognition by the Federal Government as a "consumer conciliation body" in accordance with the Consumer Dispute Resolution Act (VSBG), which came into force on 01.04.2016.

20.07.2016
UK conciliation starts

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in London also formally recognizes the conciliation body, which means that the conciliation body can now also conciliate on behalf of UK air passengers.

10.11.2017
International networking

TRAVEL_NET, an information network of European conciliation bodies in the travel and transport sector, was founded on the initiative of the conciliation body.

01.11.2018
New management

The baton for the management of the conciliation body will be handed over to Dr. Christof Berlin.

from 09.2019
Start of travel conciliation

Supported by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the travel conciliation service is being set up. The first member in this new conciliation segment is the Verband Internet Reisevertrieb (VIR).

22.01.2020
10 years of the conciliation body

Ten years of successful conciliation work is a great reason to celebrate. Over 200 guests attend the party at the Berlin Representation of the State of Hesse.

01.10.2021
New management

The Executive Board appoints Dr. Sabine Cofalla as the new Managing Director.

2020-2022
Corona challenge

When the Covid-19 pandemic breaks out, many trips cannot take place as planned. This leads to over 41,000 requests for conciliation in 2020, up 58% on 2019.
As a result of the restricted travel activities during the pandemic, significantly fewer requests for conciliation are received in 2021 than in 2019.
As the pandemic subsides, there is a noticeable increase in travel again, so that the conciliation body once again receives a large number of requests after the first "summer of travel" in 2022.
Overall, the pandemic was a highly challenging situation on many levels for the conciliation body and for society as a whole. The conciliation body team mastered it with commitment and agility.

2022-2023
Constructive change

The conciliation body continuously receives numerous applications. To ensure that these can continue to be processed accurately, with a view to each individual case and in a timely manner, the conciliation body team is constantly reviewing and changing its working methods. Differentiated procedural stages are being established, processes streamlined and the IT landscape restructured. All in all, a phase of intensive, constructive change in line with the principle of finding solutions together.