Published on December 23, 2024
Condor Airlines discontinues service from several U.S. markets, including San Antonio, after a ruling by German federal court.
SAN ANTONIO (December 23,2024) — Condor Airlines has notified San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and several other U.S. and Canadian airports that it will discontinue service to Frankfurt in 2025 because of a ruling by the German Federal Court of Justice. On Friday, the court overturned a longstanding measure enforced by the German Antitrust Authority that required another German airline, Lufthansa, to provide feeder flights to Condor’s network. This measure allowed passengers from North American cities to fly on Condor to Frankfurt and connect onwards on a Lufthansa flight on the same ticket with their bags checked through to their final destination.
With this ruling, Condor has made the decision to adapt its schedules for 2025, which includes discontinuing service from Frankfurt to Baltimore (BWI), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), Phoenix (PHX), and SAT in the U.S., and Edmonton (YEG) and Halifax (YHZ) in Canada.
“This is not a decision we take lightly. Condor has cultivated strong professional and personal ties with San Antonio and the other affected communities over the years, and we deeply regret the loss of connectivity and service this will cause. We remain committed to exploring all avenues for fair competition, though we recognize that further legal proceedings will take time to resolve,” said Dr. Jens Boyd, Commercial Director for Condor.
“This summer, the San Antonio region demonstrated its strong support for trans-Atlantic travel. While we understand and respect Condor’s challenging business decision based off the ruling by the German Federal Court of Justice, we remain deeply grateful for their investment in San Antonio and their efforts to connect SAT to the world. We look forward to resuming trans-Atlantic service and further positioning our world-class region on the global stage,” said Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, CEO, greater:SATX. “Air service is a vital engine of economic and business development, strengthening our ability to attract global investment, create jobs, and provide opportunities for local businesses to thrive on an international scale. We are committed to continuing efforts, alongside SAT and Visit San Antonio, to build and enhance our international air service, positioning our world-class region as a gateway to the global economy.”
Securing the region’s first-ever nonstop service to Europe was one of numerous accomplishments for SAT in a historic 2024. With Condor’s nonstop service, the number of passengers flying from SAT to Europe increased 30 percent this summer, reaching nearly 450 passengers daily in each direction, positioning the region to compete for future transatlantic service.
“Together in collaboration with community partners, we will continue to work on expanding nonstop service from SAT. Ties between our region and Europe continue to grow, and reconnecting SAT and Europe will continue to be a top priority for us and our community,” said Jesus Saenz, Jr. Director of Airports for the City of San Antonio. “Our community has long asked for service to Europe and last summer’s numbers proved that we do have a market that can sustain nonstop service.”
“The City of San Antonio stands as one of the most authentic and historic destinations in the United States, deserving recognition as a global brand admired around the world,” said Marc Anderson, President and CEO of Visit San Antonio. “Through our awareness and sales campaigns in Europe, we have witnessed firsthand the excitement and enthusiasm for San Antonio’s unique offerings. We are committed to building on this momentum, ensuring our city shines on the global stage. By strengthening San Antonio’s reputation as a world-class destination, we aim to attract new international flights and create meaningful opportunities that will positively impact our community for generations to come.”
