A budget airline is set to give Ryanair and Easyjet a run for their money, with new flights launching from London.
From April 2026, German carrier, Condor, will offer three flights from London Gatwick to Frankfurt, three times a day.
It’s the first time that Condor has flown from any London airport, offering even more choice for those looking for a city break in Europe.
The first flight to Frankfurt is scheduled to take off on April 1, with prices starting from €99.99 return (a fairly reasonable £88.07).
Currently, for direct flights, travellers can fly British Airways from Heathrow, with fares on the same date, listed at £124 return.
Alternatively, Ryanair flies from Stanstead to Frankfurt, for £78.48 return. While Easyjet doesn’t offer any direct flights to the German city.
The new Condor route is also part of the airline’s long-haul network, with passengers able to connect in Frankfurt onto the Caribbean, Mexico, Thailand and South Africa.
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Peter Gerber, CEO of Condor, said: ‘With London Gatwick, we are adding another exciting metropolis to our city network, offering business travellers and city tourists even more options. The launch of this route is another clear signal of our growth in the European market.’
Meanwhile, Jonathan Pollard, London Gatwick’s chief commercial officer, added that he was ‘delighted’ to welcome Condor to the airport, noting that the new routes provide ‘an important gateway to Frankfurt for passengers across London and the South East.’
London isn’t the only hub that’ll be benefiting from Condor’s new routes. The airline will also be resuming its connections to Tbilisi in Georgia and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq, with direct flights running from Düsseldorf and Frankfurt, respectively.
If you do happen to find yourself in Germany and feeling inspired to continue your travels, you’ll be able to jet off along these routes from December and June 2026.
The German city with its own Manhattan
Frankfurt is often overlooked in favour of more popular German cities, like Berlin and Munich, but it’s still visited by around 56 million each year.
While it might be slightly more industrial than its cousins, it’s acquired the nickname of Main-hattan (owing to the River Main, which flows right through it, as well as its blend of traditional architecture and modern skyscrapers). And for good reason, too.
Experience the old town, picnic in the Palmengarten, try some authentic German cuisine or ride the Ebbelwei Express tram. Plus, the old cobbled streets are ideal for exploring on foot. Walking tour, anyone?
And no visit to Frankfurt would be complete without testing out some authentic German food.
The Margarete restaurant is famous for dishing out Bratwursts galore (AKA, a German sausage), served with some apple wine and a side of Grune Sobe, which is a local speciality made of oil, vinegar and herbs.
Covered in sweet batter and then deep fried, the city’s elderflower clusters are perfect enjoyed sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
When it comes to shopping, the MyZeil centre is worth marvelling at purely for the architecture. It’s also home to Germany’s largest escalator, if that kind of thing’s your bag. And yes, it measures an impressive 46 metres.
New routes from the UK to Europe and beyond
- TUI has announced the launch of new flights to a ‘charming’ Greek island that’s said to have some of the best beaches in the country.
- The airport voted the best in in the UK has a new route to Madrid available to book from December 1.
- Last month, Riyadh Air, Air Peace, and IndiGo flights touched down at London Heathrow. It’s believed to be the first time in Heathrow’s history that three airlines will arrive on the same day. This will increase capacity and add routes for passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and India.
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