Contributor - Europe

Cathy Buyck

Lufthansa hopes to acquire at least one airline of the Thomas Cook Group—Frankfurt-based Condor—in a move that would further consolidate the German airline’s already strong position in its home market. Lufthansa acquired large parts of insolvent Air Berlin at the end of 2017 in line with its strategy to expand low-cost subsidiary Eurowings. The German flag carrier would integrate Condor into Eurowings.

 


Speaking on the sidelines of Lufthansa’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, CEO Carsten Spohr said his board supported the bid—non-binding at this stage—for the airline it co-founded in 1955. “We believe that we can offer a perspective to Condor and can preserve the unity of the company with long- and short-haul [operations]," Spohr told aeroTelegraph. The offer could possibly expand to include all of the British tourism group’s airlines, he said. Lufthansa sold its remaining shares in Condor to Thomas Cook in 2010, though the two entities continued to cooperate and Condor remains a partner in Lufthansa group’s Miles &amp; More frequent flier program.

 


Rumors that Lufthansa wanted to buy Condor surfaced in 2016 and gained new traction in February when Thomas Cook announced it was analyzing “all options” for the group’s airlines to enhance value to shareholders and intensify its strategic focus. With a joint fleet of 103 aircraft, of which a quarter serve long-haul destinations, Thomas Cook ranks as Europe’s eleventh-largest airline group, carrying 20.3 million passengers in the financial year ending September 30, 2018. The group controls airlines and AOCs in several EU countries, including Thomas Cook Airlines UK, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, Majorca-based Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics, and Condor. Condor deploys 17 long-haul aircraft and 41 short- and medium-haul aircraft from its bases in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Munich, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig, and Stuttgart in the current summer schedule.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Lufthansa Looking To Acquire German Leisure Airline Condor 

A buy of Frankfurt-based Condor would further strengthen Lufthansa’s foothold in its home market. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

More In Airlines

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

ATR Chases New Regional Markets for Twin Turboprops

Iran war and wider geopolitical pressure stall buying decisions

Embraer Racks Up E-Jet Orders at Farnborough

30 firm orders led by Abra

Gulf Air May Buy JetZero’s Blended-wing-body Z4

Japan Airlines also expresses interest at Farnborough Airshow

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN