San Antonio finally on 'world stage' with 1st route to Europe
San Antonio officials are celebrating what they say is one of the most important moments in the city's aviation history.
While German carrier Condor may not be a household name in the United States, its arrival at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is being heralded as an air-service triumph.
That's because Condor will give the city its first regularly scheduled nonstop service to Europe, something that had long been at the top of the wish list for local leaders.
"San Antonio is intercontinental," San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg was quoted as saying by the San Antonio Express-News during a press event to announce the flights. "We have arrived on the world stage."
Condor's San Antonio flights will begin May 17, 2024, when the airline will launch three weekly nonstop flights to its hub at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The service will be seasonal, running through Sept. 6. Onward connections will be available to the airline's destinations in Europe and the Middle East. Tickets are on sale now, with Condor's website showing economy fares varying widely — ranging from about $461 one-way to more than $1,100 one-way, depending on the date of travel.
Condor will fly the 5,376-mile route with its new 310-seat Airbus A330-900neo wide-body jets. The planes include 30 seats in Condor's revamped and well-reviewed business-class cabin and 64 extra-legroom seats. The remaining 216 seats are in standard economy.
Condor — which made headlines last year with a bold new striped paint scheme for its planes — is not a member of any of the big three frequent flyer groups. However, the carrier does have a partnership with Alaska Airlines that allows customers flying Condor to earn Alaska Airlines miles or vice versa. Condor has doubled down on growth in North America since the pandemic, with San Antonio becoming its 12th destination in the U.S.
That's an upgrade: Condor, a German budget airline, unveils new Airbus A330 cabins that are nicer than Lufthansa's
Currently, San Antonio's only international flights are to Mexico, where a handful of airlines fly to destinations such as Cancun, Guadalajara and Mexico City.
But securing transatlantic service had become top priority for San Antonio in recent years, and airport officials could only watch as nearby Austin — the booming Texas capital city only 80 miles from San Antonio — landed new European service on British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic during the past decade.
To help land such a route, local business leaders have cobbled more than $2 million to help secure an international service — with Frankfurt and London identified as the top targets, according to the Express-News.
Seating makeover: Inside Condor's new premium economy, coach cabins
Such funds can be used any number of ways, including helping defray a carrier's marketing costs in promoting its new service or waiving landing fees. Another popular option is to use a fund as a "revenue guarantee." These essentially guarantee a set amount of total revenue on the route, with the funds being used to offset any losses below that amount.
It appears that some of that fund will be made available to Condor, with the Express-News saying in its coverage of the announcement that the city will offer the airline a total of $1.3 million in incentives — including about $900,000 in marketing funds to promote the new route and $374,000 in waived landing and terminal fees.
Regardless of what drew Condor in, the new service to Frankfurt immediately becomes San Antonio's highest-profile route — and gives the city its long-awaited first service to Europe.
Now, local officials will have to hope the flights are successful as the failure of the route would likely hurt San Antonio's chances of attracting more transatlantic routes.
Even with the short, seasonal duration of the flights, city officials struck an optimistic tone.
"These new flights obviously will help us open up some pathways to particular industries that are strong on both sides, including advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity," Nirenberg, the San Antonio mayor, said to the Express-News.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees