Condor: The Complete Guide to the German Leisure Airline

From Lufthansa Offshoot to Independent Airline

After decades tied in various ways to the Lufthansa group and then acquired by Britain's Thomas Cook, the group's collapse in 2019 forced Condor through a protective proceeding backed by a German state loan, before returning to independence under Attestor.

Farewell to the Old Widebodies: The Arrival of the A330neo

The fleet is in the midst of a transition: the Airbus A321neo/A321LR cover medium-haul, while the new A330-900neos are replacing the old Boeing 767s and A330ceos on long-haul, in one of the largest fleet renewals among European leisure airlines.

Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Safaris from Germany

From Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Munich the network reaches the classic German leisure destinations: the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean (Mauritius, the Maldives), the United States (Florida, Las Vegas) and East Africa for safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. After independence from Lufthansa, interline agreements were reduced, replaced by new partnerships with carriers such as easyJet and JetBlue.

Fares Between Package Holidays and Direct Purchase

A substantial share of seats is sold through tour operators with baggage included, while those buying directly on the website need to check the fare they choose among the Economy Light, Classic and Premium tiers, not all of which include a checked suitcase.

Highs and Lows of the Fleet Transition

• Strengths: an A330neo cabin much appreciated on long-haul, and a good selection of onboard entertainment.
• Weaknesses: widespread delays during the slowdowns in deliveries of the new A330neos, and complaints about baggage handling in the summer peak periods in Frankfurt.

It is the most suitable choice for those booking a package holiday from Germany to the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean or an East African safari; it is less suitable for those looking for an extensive European connecting network, since interline agreements were reduced after independence from Lufthansa. A practical tip: if the flight is booked through a tour operator, baggage is almost always included, but those buying directly on Condor's website must check the fare selected, because not all of them include a checked suitcase.