Condor to end free water on its shortest city routes

Condor plans to change its inflight service on very short city routes starting in September, according to an internal staff communication. On flights where actual airtime is around half an hour, such as Frankfurt to Berlin or Frankfurt to Zurich, passengers will get water, coffee and tea only if they pay for them.

The airline said the change follows test flights conducted in February and March on some of its shortest connections. During these trials, three approaches were tested in economy class: handing out water only when requested, having crew walk the aisle with a large bottle to pour water on request, and offering all drinks for a fee.

Condor has traditionally operated as a holiday airline flying to beach and nature destinations. Since summer 2025, it has expanded into flights to various European cities. According to the company, this expansion became necessary after Lufthansa ended a decades-old feeder agreement, leaving Condor needing its own short-haul connections to feed its long-haul network.

In the staff letter, the company said very short city routes pose a particular challenge for inflight service because of the limited flight time available. It described the new service concept, still being developed for short- and medium-haul flights, as intended to be simpler, clearer and more sustainable going forward.

No specific date beyond September was given for the rollout. It also remains unclear whether the change will extend beyond the initial short routes named.