Peter Gerber, the CEO of the holiday airline Condor, does not anticipate that ticket prices will decrease in the coming months. Describing the prospect as “illusory” in interviews with the “Handelsblatt”, Gerber admitted that, across the industry, demand has required some routes to be stimulated with lower fares, a trend that Condor also faces. However, he noted that the high price of fuel has consumed a significant portion of the company’s profits.
Despite the financial pressures, the Condor chief is considering expanding the company’s network of feeder flights, particularly those connecting to Frankfurt. While Gerber stated that the current 13 routes are sufficient to funnel a large number of passengers into the hub and fill long-haul aircraft, he explained that more connections would allow the airline to better select the timings and locations that yield the highest average revenue.
Gerber acknowledged that combining tour and mainline operations creates complexity, but this does not deter potential investors. He highlighted the airline’s extensive partner network, noting that their own distribution channels make them highly attractive to other carriers. “We have partnerships with Emirates, Etihad, WestJet, Jetblue, and many others,” Gerber stated. He added that the company is equally appealing to all groups of investors. The major shareholder and British investment fund Attestor, which has the chance to acquire Condor completely at the end of September, has been looking for a co-investor for some time.
