Overview - Condor

Frankfurt-based Condor Flugdienst describes itself as “one of the leading tourism airlines throughout the world”. Whether it is a pure “low cost airline” is largely academic. It offers low priced point-to-point fares, performing both charters and individually ticketed services.

Condor operates from 17 airports in Germany, using Boeing 767-300, Boeing 757-300 and Airbus A320 aircraft (its last B757-200 was withdrawn from service in late 2006). As well as its short haul European routes, it also operates long haul to North America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. The original airline is one of Europe’s oldest, enjoying its 50th birthday on 21 December 2005.

But it has gone through several metamorphoses, brands and ownerships, creating a lifeline that resembles a prolific family tree. It evolved into its current form in 1997, when Condor Flugdienst GmbH and NUR Touristic GmbH merged under the ownership of C&N Touristic AG (today’s Thomas Cook AG) in turn owned jointly by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and KarstadtQuelle AG (each holding 50%). This created the basis for “an integrated tourism concern with a European format”.

In 1998, the group established “Condor Berlin GmbH”, a 100 percent subsidiary headquartered in Berlin Schönefeld and, from 2002, the two airlines were merged and rebranded “Thomas Cook powered by Condor”.

Punishing competition from the emerging low cost airlines in Europe caused it to shed 12 B757-200s and, with a new direction, in 2004, the unwieldy brand reverted to the original Condor name and the airline began to look more like a true LCC (but still providing a “tourism” service).

The new Condor at this time in fact became arguably the first long haul low cost airline, offering prices on long haul Flights from as low as 99 Euros on its intercontinental routes. Discount introductory prices of 29 Euros were also first offered on its short and medium haul routes.

The Lufthansa ownership allows Condor to provide enhancements to its point-to-point services, offering Lufthansa feeder flight from EUR60 for Condor Flights departing from Frankfurt and Munich on all long, medium and short haul Flights. The ownership also shows in Condor’s maintenance - all aircraft are maintained by Condor Cargo Technik, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa-Technik AG. Source: Condor website

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