Condor Expands Domestic and International Routes

The leisure airline Condor is undergoing significant changes: in light of uncertainties surrounding its future cooperation with Lufthansa, the carrier is adjusting its long-haul network and placing greater emphasis on domestic and European connections. This marks a major strategic shift, bringing both opportunities and challenges.

Background: Long-Standing Dispute with Lufthansa

Condor’s changes stem from a long-running conflict with Lufthansa. Since the termination of a critical feeder flight agreement in 2020, several legal disputes have been ongoing between the two airlines. This agreement allowed Condor to funnel transfer passengers from Lufthansa flights onto its own long-haul routes, which was crucial for maintaining high passenger volumes.

In December 2022, Lufthansa let the existing agreement expire, causing the number of transfer passengers at Condor to plummet to just 20% of previous levels. This has particularly impacted the North Atlantic market, where Condor relied heavily on feeder flights. The European Commission has announced plans to compel Lufthansa to reinstate the agreement to ensure competition on routes such as Frankfurt-New York. However, Lufthansa retains legal avenues to challenge this decision.

Condor’s Strategic Shift

In response to these challenges, Condor has decided to adapt its flight offerings:

• North America Reduction: Six North American destinations, including Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Halifax, will be dropped from the summer 2025 schedule.
• New Routes in Asia and Africa: Condor is expanding its network with new long-haul routes to Bangkok, Johannesburg, and Panama City. Existing connections to Mombasa and Mauritius will also be strengthened.
• Domestic and European Expansion: In addition to new domestic routes like Frankfurt-Hamburg and Frankfurt-Berlin, Condor plans to launch flights to European cities such as Paris and Rome. 

The goal is to attract both transfer passengers for long-haul flights and city travelers, including business passengers.

Competitive Challenges

In recent years, Lufthansa has developed its subsidiary Discover, which follows a similar business model to Condor. Lufthansa argues that providing feeder flights to Condor would bolster its competition, which is why it chose to terminate the cooperation.

Peter Gerber, Condor’s CEO, takes a critical view of the situation. Despite legal progress against Lufthansa, he emphasized his openness to an out-of-court solution. “We remain open to discussions, but the sides have not yet come closer to agreement,” said Gerber.

Impact on Tourism

While Condor is tapping into new markets, the airline is scaling back its involvement in tourist regions like the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. It remains to be seen whether this strategic pivot will achieve its growth objectives.

A Bold Step in Uncertain Times

Condor’s realignment demonstrates how agile airlines must be in responding to changing market conditions. With a diversified route network and a clear focus on domestic and international connections, Condor is seeking ways to navigate the challenges of the coming years. The outcomes of its legal disputes with Lufthansa and broader market developments will play a crucial role in shaping the airline’s future.

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Article Author

Lena Müller

Operations

<p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">With a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management and over five years of hands-on experience, Lena's contributions have been nothing short of transformative.</span></p>