Condor considering joining Oneworld alliance

[Mattg]

This has been in the news in Germany recently:

Condor is taking new paths: Possible rapprochement with the Oneworld alliance

In a time of change and strategic realignment in the aviation industry, the German holiday airline Condor appears to be increasingly looking towards a possible collaboration with the global…

aviation.direct

Condor is apparently in talks with American Airlines about closer cooperation, and wants to join the Oneworld alliance.

I have to say, this would make perfect sense and seems like a win-win for both Oneworld and Condor. Oneworld has lacked a member in central Europe ever since Airberlin collapsed. And Condor is getting squeezed in the German market by the larger Lufthansa - alliance membership could give it better feed and a new point of difference.

Condor does already partner closely with Alaska Airlines.

Is the bright alliance about to get some colourful stripes?

 

[RooFlyer]

Great development! I’ve always said the weakest part of one world is it’s central European distribution

 

[Mattg]

Great development! I’ve always said the weakest part of one world is it’s central European distribution

I think Oneworld's weakest part right now is probably South America!

But definitely, central Europe is a weakness for Oneworld and has been since Airberlin collapsed. The current European Oneworld hubs of London, Madrid and Helsinki are basically on the edges of Europe - there isn't anything in the middle. I don't necessarily want to connect via Helsinki to get from Frankfurt to Rome, for example!

 

[RooFlyer]

Sure, yes, I overlooked South America. But your arguments are exactly what I think about OW coverage in Europe.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

But definitely, central Europe is a weakness for Oneworld and has been since Airberlin collapsed. The current European Oneworld hubs of London, Madrid and Helsinki are basically on the edges of Europe - there isn't anything in the middle. I don't necessarily want to connect via Helsinki to get from Frankfurt to Rome, for example!

Condor do fly that route, but I'm not sure how much Condor helps with overall connectivity. If you look at it's route map, it primarily connects German airports with leisure destinations, especially in the Mediterranean and Caribbean (Condor Weltkarte – Traumziele entdecken) and doesn't have any flights to OW's three European hubs.

 

[Mattg]

Condor do fly that route, but I'm not sure how much Condor helps with overall connectivity. If you look at it's route map, it primarily connects German airports with leisure destinations, especially in the Mediterranean and Caribbean (Condor Weltkarte – Traumziele entdecken) and doesn't have any flights to OW's three European hubs.

Condor has been building up a bit of a network from FRA to major European cities, since it had to terminate its interline agreement with Lufthansa. Obviously if it joined Oneworld, it might also consider adding flights to places like MAD, LHR and HEL as well.

Yes, its primary focus is flying to German leisure destinations, but it does also fly to some more business-oriented destinations like New York, LA, Seattle, Johannesburg, etc. The network is probably better than what Airberlin used to offer, actually.

 

[AIRwin]

Yes, its primary focus is flying to German leisure destinations

And it has recently DEbuted a (ranDEm?) fifth freeDEm between BKK and SYX:

Post in thread 'A Complete, Updated List of Fifth-Freedom Routes'

Jul 14, 2025

Fifth freedom between BKK and SYX on Condor:

Condor Schedules Sanya Service From late-July 2025 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0000PDT / 0700GMT 14JUL25 Condor later this month plans to add scheduled service to Sanya in China, as the carrier plans to operate Frankfurt – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Sanya routing, 3 times weekly. First flight will depart Frankfurt on 26JUL25. DE2362 FRA2010 – 1230+1BKK1420+1 –

www.aeroroutes.com

• AIRwin

• 

 

[moa999]

High percentage of oneworld airlines fly into Frankfurt (Qantas one of the no lingers), so it certainly fits.

And then maybe the new Aeroitalia once it renames itself.

You'd then have British, Spanish, Finnish, German and Italian.

 

[AIRwin]

You'd then have British, Spanish, Finnish, German and Italian.

Do they all walk into a bar?

 

[RooFlyer]

Condor's destinations (some will be seasonal). Flightconnections.com






June next year

 

[tyrolean]

Air Berlin reloaded. Long ago Condor was the Leisure brand of Lufthansa. A few rounds if Monoply game, selling brands and inolvent parent companies DE is now insipendant. So LH tries to fight against them. Historicalöy they focus on German Leisure Pax and the good old sun&beach leisure holiday. But in the off-season they try to build up routes for city trips or a bit of business travelers. Since LH made the interlinig in FRA too expensive, they now try to build up an own feeder system in FRs. They may be some good addition, as they can feeder to other OW partners in FRA. Would be great to have again a propper OW Airline at home.

 

[pauldab]

I read German Leisure travel and all I can think of is walking onto the aircraft and seeing every "good" seat pre-claimed with a towel.

 

[Aeryn]

Is Condor a full service airline? IMO LCCs shouldnt be admitted

 

[Himeno]

Is Condor a full service airline? IMO LCCs shouldnt be admitted

They don't have a frequent flyer program. They are an affiliate of the AS and EK programs.

It might help if they went to more oneworld hubs besides 4 in the US (SEA, LAX, JFK, MIA).

 

[FlyingFiona]

I read German Leisure travel and all I can think of is walking onto the aircraft and seeing every "good" seat pre-claimed with a towel.

That's a step up from the socks with sandals and shorts that I had envisaged when I read the same.

 

[Daver6]

I don't necessarily want to connect via Helsinki to get from Frankfurt to Rome, for example!

You should be kicked off AFF for comments like that Think of the SC earn!

 

[dajop]

Is Condor a full service airline? IMO LCCs shouldnt be admitted

Why not? Once admitted to an alliance, with interlining and aligned IT etc which involves a GDS, they probably would not be considered a LCC anymore. And once you’re in the back of the bus, you could argue that, at least for short haul, several one world carriers are LCCs……
.
I’m any event, they do have business class

Business Class

Condor Business class brings you exclusive enjoyment on longhaul flights. Learn more and fly Condor Business Class ★✈

www.condor.com

 

[Mattg]

Why not? Once admitted to an alliance, with interlining and aligned IT etc which involves a GDS, they probably would not be considered a LCC anymore. And once you’re in the back of the bus, you could argue that, at least for short haul, several one world carriers are LCCs……
.
I’m any event, they do have business class

Business Class

Condor Business class brings you exclusive enjoyment on longhaul flights. Learn more and fly Condor Business Class ★✈

www.condor.com

Condor's wide-body business class is actually very decent. Fully lie-flat.

 

[moa999]

The other thing they'd likely need to address is lounges, particularly at Frankfurt where their J class pax get access to LH lounges.
At other ports it's mostly third party lounges.