San Antonio’s first nonstop transatlantic air service has come and gone.
Condor Airlines notified City officials that it will discontinue service from the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) to Frankfurt in 2025, according to an announcement from the airport.
In canceling the service to SAT and several other U.S. cities, the German-based air carrier cited a recent federal court ruling in that country that could reduce its overall passenger count in the new year.
The German Federal Court of Justice ruled against Condor in an antitrust regulations case that had required German’s flag carrier, Lufthansa, to allow Condor passengers to connect seamlessly onto Lufthansa flights and reach other destinations throughout Europe.
Condor responded by discontinuing service from U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Baltimore and Minneapolis-St. Paul, and two in Canada.
“This is not a decision we take lightly,” stated Jens Boyd, commercial director for Condor. “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.”
Boyd added that the airline is “exploring all avenues for fair competition, though we recognize that further legal proceedings will take time to resolve.”
Founded in 1955, Condor Airlines is owned by the London-based investment firm Attestor as majority owner. The remaining stake is held by SG Luftfahrtgesellschaft on behalf of Germany’s federal government and the government of the state of Hesse.
Condor launched the first flight from SAT only eight months ago, in May 2024, with flights offered three times a week throughout the summer months.
At a September 2023 press conference where Condor and City officials gathered to celebrate the new flight, Mayor Ron Nirenberg called it “the most historic announcement we could make with regard to air service in San Antonio.”
Visit San Antonio President and CEO Marc Anderson said in May that the air service “further establishes San Antonio as a city worthy of global investment and a city worthy of being a global brand known throughout the entire world.”
A month later, the airline reduced the seasonal flight to twice a week, eliminating the Wednesday flight, and stating that Mondays and Fridays were the most heavily booked days.
Greater:SATX President and CEO Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, said resuming transatlantic air service to Europe is key to the city’s goals.
“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,” she said.
The work to expand nonstop service from SAT to Europe will continue, said Jesus Saenz, director of airports for the City of San Antonio.
“Ties between our region and Europe continue to grow,” Saenz said. “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.”
In August, SAT reported that the number of people flying to and from international destinations during the month of July was up 21% over the previous year.
In addition to the newly added Condor flight to Frankfurt, in July, Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris increased routes and service between San Antonio and cities in Mexico.
In a win-some-lose-some kind of month for the San Antonio airport, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Dec. 17 that a nonstop route between SAT and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has officially been established.
Ticket sales for the American Airlines air service to DCA began Dec. 23 and the flight launches March 3.
On Dec. 10, City officials also broke ground on a new $1.68 billion terminal with 17 gates expected to be complete in 2028.
