Germany is one of the European leaders in the volume of the civil air transportation market. Several of Germany's largest airlines are also world leaders in their segment.
The flagship of German aviation
The most famous airline in Germany and one of the most famous in Europe is Lufthansa, which is also part of the concern with the same name, which also includes Swiss International Airlines.
As Europe’s largest airline concern, Lufthansa operates flights to more than two hundred destinations in seventy-eight countries. In order to understand the true scale of the route network, it is enough to say that more than 620 vessels are involved in its flights and the routes of its subsidiary carriers. At the same time, Lufthansa's passenger flow exceeds the volume of traffic of all other German airlines.
Until 1994, the Lufthansa of Europe was in state ownership, but after completely passed into the possession of investors. In addition, the airline moved its head office from Cologne to Frankfurt. Munich and Dusseldorf also have airline hubs. As Germany’s largest airline, Lufthansa is under the scrutiny of trade unions that regularly go on strike to demand better pay conditions.
Air Berlin. Second after the leader
Founded in 1978, Air Berlin was originally an American company with an office in Oregon. However, later it was bought out by a group of German entrepreneurs and moved to Germany. Today, Air Berlin is the second largest airline in Germany by passenger volume, second only to Lufthansa in this respect.
Since the beginning of the 2000s, the foundation of the airline's strategy has been the creation of alliances with other carriers in order to reduce costs and lower prices. In addition, the company joined the Oneworld alliance, which allowed it to significantly expand the route network at the expense of partners. Today, Air Berlin stands out on the list of German airlines, as since the fall of 2017, the company has temporarily suspended its activities in connection with the bankruptcy petition.
Condor airlines
The airline, often referred to simply as "Condor", occupies a special place in the list of the largest airlines in Germany, as it is a charter carrier. For several decades, Lufthansa was one of its shareholders, but in 2008, Thomas Cook AG bought it out.
Condor is one of several German airlines flying to the Americas. In total, the company has routes in fifteen American, seven African, four Asian and seven European states. The carrier has forty-one aircraft in operation, several more are ordered and are in the process of production. The fleet will be replenished soon.
Photos of German airlines boast bright colors due to a very diverse pattern of liveries. Recognition of Condor is achieved thanks to the large CONDOR inscription on the fuselage in blue letters.
List of German Airlines
The third largest airline in the country is TUIfly, owned by the tourism concern TUI AG. This carrier operates flights to 149 airports around the world on all continents. Among the Russian cities the airline flies to are Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Another subsidiary of Lufthansa, showing strong growth, is Germanwings. This company positions itself as a budget and seeks to minimize costs and reduce the average price of airline tickets. The main carrier-based airport is Cologne / Bonn, and the number of destinations reaches eighty-six.
Apart from the family of German air carriers is Cirrus Airlines. This relatively small and young carrier is a member of the Lufthansa franchise and operates several international flights under its brand. In total, the company operates regular flights to twelve destinations.
Thus, the list of significant passenger airlines is as follows:
- Condor Airlines;
- Cirrus Airlines
- Germanwings;
- Lufthansa;
- TUIfly;
- Eurowings;
- Air Berlin (bankruptcy proceedings launched);
- Germania.
Speaking about the air transportation market in Germany, one should know that a significant part of it is occupied by Lufthansa or its subsidiaries. At the same time, the rest of the German air carriers are trying to occupy the niche of low-cost air transportation. This balance allows you to maintain financial stability for most airlines in Germany.