Home » Airlines News of Germany » Frankfurt  Joins London Gatwick, Tbilisi, Düsseldorf and Sulaymaniyah in Major Route Expansion Across Europe by Condor Airlines

Published on
November 16, 2025

Major route expansion by condor across europe

The German carrier Condor Flugdienst GmbH (Condor) is set to make a significant push across Europe with three major route changes: establishing a Frankfurt → London Gatwick (LGW) service starting April 2026 (its first London route), resuming Düsseldorf → Sulaymaniyah (ISU) in December 2025, and adding a new Frankfurt → Tbilisi (TBS) daily service commencing June 2026. All routes have been officially announced by the airline.

Frankfurt → London Gatwick: A Landmark Launch

Why this route matters:

  • London and Frankfurt are both major business & financial hubs; the high‑frequency connection gives Condor access to business traffic as well as leisure traffic.
  • By choosing Gatwick instead of Heathrow, the airline avoids the extreme slot constraints at Heathrow, while still giving London connectivity.
  • For passengers in London and the South East UK, this means a new direct link to Germany’s key hub at Frankfurt, which in turn offers onward connections.

What to watch:
Condor lists the route on its website.
As with any new route, the success will depend on demand, pricing and how well the airline markets the link for both business and leisure travellers.

Düsseldorf → Sulaymaniyah: Resumption of a Vital Link

Condor has confirmed that it will resume nonstop services between Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) and Sulaymaniyah International Airport (ISU) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq starting December 2025 (weekly frequency is indicated).
On the airline’s booking portal the Düsseldorf → Sulaymaniyah route is listed (for example as early as 28 April 2026) but the December 2025 start is clearly stated in the press announcement.

Why this matters:

  • It’s a route targeting a specific segment: passengers visiting friends and family, diaspora traffic and ethnic/regional travel—not purely business or mass‑tourism.
  • The resumption signals Condor’s interest in niche markets beyond the usual Western European‑leisure picture.
  • Sulaymaniyah is not widely served by EU carriers, so the reinstatement may fill a gap.

Points to note:

  • While the announcement says “starting December 2025” nearly full schedule entries show as of early 2026—so for travellers, verifying exact inaugural date and availability is suggested.
  • Weekly service means limited frequency; for passengers this may mean less flexibility but a direct link nonetheless.

Frankfurt → Tbilisi: Daily Service to Georgia

Condor will add a daily flight from Frankfurt (FRA) to Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), Georgia starting June 2026.
According to the press release, Condor will be the only airline connecting Frankfurt and Tbilisi on a non‑stop basis.

Why this route matters:

  • Georgia is an emerging destination: cultural tourism, historic city, growing interest among travellers.
  • Frankfurt as a hub allows onward connections within Europe and beyond, so this route can feed both inbound tourism to Georgia and outbound from Germany/Europe.
  • Daily frequency is ambitious—shows Condor has confidence in demand for this corridor.

Considerations:

  • While the route is announced, travellers should check for schedule details once bookings open.
  • The competitive landscape: the announcement notes that other German carriers will also serve Tbilisi (though perhaps via other cities).

Strategic Implications & Context

Together these three route changes show a clear shift by Condor:

  • From being primarily a leisure‑charter / holiday carrier to a more genuine point‑to‑point airline with frequent city‑pair flights (e.g., FR FRA–LGW).
  • A push into new markets (Georgia) and underserved corridors (Kurdistan Region) alongside traditional European business/leisure hubs (London).
  • Reinforcement of Frankfurt as a central hub for Condor’s European network expansion.

In the industry commentary, the London route is described as “another clear signal of our growth in the European market.”
Moreover, the London announcement emphasises that it is not simply a feeder for long‑haul networks but targeted point‑to‑point traffic.

For travellers and travel‑industry watchers this means: more options, likely competitive pricing (at least initially) on FRA–LGW, and new linkages beyond the usual. For Condor, success will depend on execution—frequency, seat loading, yield (ticket price vs cost) and connectivity.

Verification & Reliability of the Data

  • The FRA–LGW launch is confirmed via Condor’s own newsroom announcement.
  • The Düsseldorf–Sulaymaniyah resumption is listed on the carrier’s booking site for flights to Iraq and referenced in a third‑party aviation news site.
  • The Frankfurt–Tbilisi service is clearly mentioned in the press release and aviation media.

Given that we have primary statements from Condor plus independent news coverage, the information looks reliable. That said, as with all future route announcements, details (exact frequency, aircraft type, start date) may still be subject to adjustment.

Conclusion

In summary: Condor is making a bold move. The Frankfurt → London Gatwick service beginning April 2026 (three times daily) marks its first London connection and a high‑frequency push into a major business/leisure market. The Düsseldorf → Sulaymaniyah route resumption in December 2025 opens a niche but meaningful corridor. And the Frankfurt → Tbilisi daily flight from June 2026 extends Condor’s network into Georgia. For passengers this means more choice; for Condor this represents a shift in strategy. Observers will watch how these routes perform—but in any case the airline is signalling that it is serious about expanding its European footprint.