Condor Airlines cuts flights in 4 U.S. cities. Here’s why
Travelers hoping to fly nonstop from Phoenix to Frankfurt, Germany, in 2025 will have to rethink their plans. Condor Airlines will discontinue flights from four U.S. cities, including Phoenix, next year.
For Phoenix, this is particularly significant because in May 2024 Condor added a larger plane for its seasonal flights from Sky Harbor Airport. Condor’s withdrawal from Phoenix leaves travelers with fewer nonstop options to Europe.
“While we are disappointed anytime there is a decrease in service, we know demand to Europe has increased significantly and the Phoenix opportunity remains strong,” said Heather Shelbrack, deputy aviation director for public relations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Here’s what to know about Condor Airlines cutting its Phoenix to Frankfurt route.
Why did Condor cut flights in Phoenix?
Condor Airlines cut its Phoenix-to-Frankfurt route in the wake of a German federal court ruling limiting the airline’s ability to connect passengers seamlessly onto Lufthansa flights, as reported by The Points Guy travel website.
This antitrust-related decision removed a competitive advantage that allowed Condor passengers to travel more smoothly to destinations beyond Frankfurt, The Points Guy wrote. Anticipating lower passenger demand, Condor eliminated routes in Phoenix, Minneapolis, Baltimore and San Antonio, Texas.
“Unfortunately, the cancellation is due to circumstances beyond our control as a German court ruled last week that Lufthansa is no longer required to give Condor access to their feeder network at Frankfurt,” said Shelbrack.
“The airline will be notifying passengers of cancellations and working to rebook alternate itineraries or arrange for refunds.”
Condor’s seasonal flights from Phoenix have operated three times weekly from May through September. The service began in 2018, was paused due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, then resumed in 2022.
What international flights does Phoenix have?
International flights from Phoenix are thriving, offering travelers plenty of options for direct connections to popular destinations around the world. Although Condor Airlines will discontinue its Phoenix-Frankfurt route in 2025, Air France offers nonstops to Paris and British Airways and American Airlines have service to London.
“Just last week, Air France announced they are not only increasing the number of weekly flights on their Phoenix-Paris route from three to five times a week, but they are also utilizing a larger aircraft due to the route’s success,” said Shelbrack.
And looking to the future, Sky Harbor officials are working to expand the airport’s global reach, including exploring potential nonstop flights to Asia.
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