British private equity firm Attestor is taking full control of German airline Condor, exercising its option to buy the 49% government-held stake ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline.
Condor faces tough challenges as it builds a Frankfurt hub, competes with Lufthansa and seeks a strategic partner amid rising fuel costs and market shifts.
The latest ruling did not resolve whether Lufthansa is using its dominant position in the German market to drive out Condor, its only relevant local competitor.
After losing a court case, Condor says it is exploring further legal options to regain access to Lufthansa feeder flights at the leisure carrier's Frankfurt base.
A 2022 decision by Germany’s competition watchdog forcing Lufthansa to offer feeder services at preferential conditions to rival Condor has been ruled illegal.
Condor has launched a public lobbying campaign against what it calls a dominant anti-competitive position of its rival Lufthansa ahead of a crucial court ruling.
While construction of Frankfurt’s terminal 3 is far advanced, its soft opening will not happen for another nine months or so, after the 2026 Easter break.
Frankfurt Airport CEO Stefan Schulte predicts a disproportionate increase in long-haul capacity over the next few years as Lufthansa gets new widebodies.
