Thomas Cook-owned Condor confirmed that its flights are continuing to operate normally despite its parent company entering liquidation and has applied for a transitional loan.
Earlier on Monday morning, Condor’s social media team told concerned passengers on Twitter, that “flights operated by Condor with an DE flight number” continue to operate as normal. Its website is since displaying a notice to passengers: “Update on current media articles: Condor continues to fly! Flights are operating as scheduled“.
Flights operations at sister airlines Thomas Cook Airlines UK and Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia have been suspended in the meantime, with planes being impounded on arrival to the United Kingdom.
Even though the German leisure carrier is profitable, it is unclear how it will manage its business following the shutdown of Thomas Cook Group plc, as Condor’s operations depended heavily on its now defunct owner. The airline has immediately applied for a rescue loan from the government of Germany on early Monday morning in order to have enough funds during this short-term transitional period and keep itself running. A decision is still pending as of early Tuesday morning. The state government of Hesse, where Condor is based, has already guaranteed its financial support if the federal government steps in as well.
Update: Condor to receive rescue loan from German government
Condor advises customers that travelers who booked package holidays through insolvent Thomas Cook or any of its subsidiaries (including Neckermann) can no longer be transported on outbound flights.
The airline was founded in 1955 and is based in Frankfurt. It was owned by German flag-carrier Lufthansa for most of its history but became part of the Thomas Cook Group (formerly Thomas Cook AG) in 2003.
Including sister companies Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics (Spain) and Thomas Cook Aviation (Germany), which both operate flights on behalf of Condor, the airline currently has a fleet of 58 aircraft, consisting of Airbus A320 family, Boeing 757-300 and Boeing 767-300ER. Condor carries more than 7 million passengers each year.
Read more: Thomas Cook Airlines UK suspends operations, planes impounded
Jakob Wert is an aviation journalist from Germany. He built up the website IFN.news and is the Editor-In-Chief of International Flight Network.
