German carrier Condor has this month revealed the addition of Pittsburgh to its summer 2017 transatlantic route network from Frankfurt and it appears last year’s World Routes air service development forum in Durban, South Africa, paved the way to this long-haul route launch.
Condor, part of Thomas Cook Group Airlines, will inaugurate a twice weekly link between its home base at Frankfurt Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport from June 23, 2017, growing its long-haul. The new route will complement new flights to San Diego and New Orleans in an expanded summer 2017 schedule and will operate through to September 1, 2017, a total of 21 return rotations.
“We first started talking to the air service development team from Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Airport Authority at World Routes in Durban last year and are pleased that in just over one year we have turned those initial discussions into a new transatlantic air service ready to launch next summer.”
Wilken Bellmann
Head of Network Development Long-Haul, Condor
“We are delighted to add Pittsburgh as our latest destination in the United States of America (USA). We first started talking to the air service development team from Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Airport Authority at World Routes in Durban last year and are pleased that in just over one year we have turned those initial discussions into a new transatlantic air service ready to launch next summer,” said Wilken Bellmann, head of network development long-haul, Condor. “The Routes events provide us with an excellent opportunity to explore new network options.”
The leisure carrier has significantly grown its activities in USA over recent years. Over the past couple of years new flights have been added from Frankfurt to Austin, Baltimore, Minneapolis and Portland, while next year the additional San Diego, New Orleans and Pittsburgh flights will be complement by new Munich – Las Vegas and Munich – Seattle links.
In total its capacity offering between Europe and USA has more than tripled since the start of the decade from just over 35,000 seats in summer 2010 to almost 130,000 seats in summer 2016. Its network growth will see its summer offer grow 55.0 percent year-on-year in 2017 to over 200,000 non-stop seats, based on current published schedules.
“In summer 2017, passengers will be able to choose from a total of 39 destinations from Condor’s growing long-haul flight schedule from our departure airports in Frankfurt and Munich,” said Jens Boyd, group head of long-haul, Condor. “In addition to our flights to San Diego and New Orleans, we are delighted to launch our new service to Pittsburgh to further complement our North America program.”
The ‘Steel City’ is one of the many by-names of the largest city in the industrial region of the Appalachian Mountains. In the 19th century, the city grew to become the most important location of the US steel industry but over recent decades, Pittsburgh has been transformed into a modern city and offers numerous attractions ideally suited for leisure activities.
“The Routes events provide us with an excellent opportunity to explore new network options.”
Wilken Bellmann
Head of Network Development Long-Haul, Condor
The city, which is located in Pennsylvania, in the northeast of the United States, is also known as the ‘City of Bridges’. With a total of 446 bridges, Pittsburgh offers more river and street crossings than Venice, Italy and is known for the famous Pittsburgh Zoo, home to over 4,000 animals, which also includes a large aquarium with penguins, sharks and rays.
Condor will bring much needed additional connectivity between Europe and Pittsburgh. Currently Delta Air Lines offers the only non-stop flight, serving Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport in France, while low-cost carrier WOW air will also add the city to its North American network offering flights to and from Keflavik International Airport, serving Reykjavik non-stop and with direct connections across Europe.
“Additional service into Europe has been a top priority for Pittsburgh International Airport and the community. We are extremely excited to welcome Condor to our growing market. The airline’s wide-body aircraft and on-board product will be a great addition for the many travellers to Europe who use Pittsburgh International Airport,” said Christina Cassotis, chief executive officer, Allegheny County Airport Authority.
The Business cabin and schedule (Friday and Monday rotations) will support increasing trade links between Pittsburgh and Germany. According to the German American Chamber of Commerce in Pittsburgh, there are approximately 11,000 people working for German-owned companies in the region; 5,000 German citizens with family in the area; and 125 German companies including Adidas, BASF, Bayer, Covestro, Bosch, SAP and Siemens.
It is over ten years since Pittsburgh and Frankfurt were last linked in October 2004 by US Airways and the German city is key for business and leisure travellers alike. “While we know many leisure travellers will use this route, we have at least 13 German companies with Pittsburgh offices or subsidiaries; 15 German organisations in the region; and 10 university and secondary school partnerships with German institutions,” said Cassotis. “Those figures translate to passengers as well as cargo opportunities with this widebody aircraft. We’re thrilled that Condor recognised the demand for this service in Pittsburgh.”
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