German leisure airline Condor is in the process of reinventing itself. The airline is about to refresh its fleet with all new Airbus A330-900neos, and on top of that is competing head-to-head with Lufthansa in more markets. Ahead of the first A330-900neo delivery, the airline has revealed an original new livery… it’s so ridiculous that I love it.
In this post:
Condor reveals new brand identity
Condor has today unveiled its new brand identity, including an all new livery. Nope, it’s not April Fools’ Day, though initially you may think it is.
This new livery is intended to emphasize that the airline is a leisure carrier, as apparently “vacation is stripes.” As it’s described:
Condor is vacation. And vacation is stripes. Germany’s most popular leisure airline is unveiling its new brand identity today: In the future, Condor will wear stripes in five colors. Inspired by parasols, bath towels and beach chairs, Condor is evolving into a distinctive and unique vacation airline.
Here’s how Ralf Teckentrup, CEO of Condor, describes this:
“Condor has undergone a transformation over the past two and a half years: From a subsidiary of a vertically integrated travel group to an independent airline that looks back proudly on its history and tradition, while at the same time embarking on the path to the future. We want to express this unmistakably through our corporate identity: Condor is vacation and Condor is unmistakable – like our new design, with which we are now launching into the future. Our new trademark are stripes, our figurative mark stands for our origin and the colors for diversity. This triad is new, what remains is our passion. It has always made Condor unique and is therefore also reflected in our claim: Passion is our compass.”
A few more key details:
- The corporate identity’s lead colors are yellow and blue, but they’re complemented by the contrasting color gray
- Planes will be painted in stripes that are five different colors, including yellow, red, blue, green, and beige, intended to “stand for the facets of the diversity of Condor’s guests, employees and the multitude of opportunities to discover the world with Condor”
- The Condor signet (the condor in a circle) has received a “facelift, with finer and more dynamic lines”
- The Condor lettering is more compact, and is now fully lower case
- It’s expected that 80% of Condor’s fleet will be repainted with the new livery by 2024, with aircraft getting the new livery at the same time that they need to be repainted anyway
- The first A330-900neo with the new livery will be flying this fall, while the first A321 with the new livery will be flying as of April 5 (it has the registration code D-AIAD)
I kind of love this new livery… I think?
When I first saw Condor’s new livery, I almost thought it was a joke. But it quickly grew on me, and I kind of love it. A couple of thoughts:
- Condor is a leisure airline, and it’s nice that the airline has a playful and fun livery
- With virtually all airlines adopting a similar style livery and claiming that they’re doing something unique, it’s fantastic to see an airline finally do something bold and special
- I think this might just be the boldest new livery we’ve ever seen an airline introduce?
- The alternating colors reminds me of Icelandair’s new livery, though Condor’s is definitely cooler
Bottom line
German leisure airline Condor has introduced a new livery that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. The new livery features stripes in five different colors, and Condor planes will no doubt stand out at whatever airport they fly to.
The first plane with the new livery will be an A321, and it’ll fly as of tomorrow. Meanwhile we can expect A330-900neos to enter service as of this fall with this new livery.
What do you make of Condor’s new livery? I’m curious if I’m the only one who loves just how “out there” this is!
What? No pink stripes!
spotted one this morning in frankfurt - nice summery break in the monotony of a grey spring morning!
fantastic and so fresh
Oh my.. Flying pajamas!
Who did this work for Condor?
Love it!!!!! Condor dared to be different. Passengers don't decide to fly an airline based on their livery, but, I can see a child convincing their parents to fly on the stripe planes...
At 56 years old, I've been flying Condor on and off my whole life. For me, Condor has by far the nicest cabin staff of all low-cost airlines, but also the most sagging seats and the oldest, rockiest aircraft on the market. Especially the "Business Class" is really bad. Nevertheless, it is an airline with which I associate many pleasant experiences and family trips. Maybe the stripes will bring a little better seat comfort ;-)
The most brilliant livery since Braniff International in the mid 60s! Sister Lufthansa should take another look at stab at their awful recent redesign!
Well one thing is for sure. They’ll run rings around the competition………………………
Love love love it. And it's not Eurowhite
This is great marketing. Everyone will remember seeing a striped plane. Dr Seuss wins.
Reminds me of Fruit Stripe gum...
Kind of new take on the old Braniff Flying Colors. I like it.
I love it.
I actually dig this new livery a lot! And it’s even better since I find Condor to be more friendly and likable than Lufthansa. I guess with this and the Sunclass Airlines rebrand, that’s a wrap for the remaining traces of the Thomas Cook livery.
The design is appaling. Sack whoever came up with this idea!
Haha, nice.
Hey Lucky, now this isn’t on topic but I think the lifemiles search engine is completely broken. Zero availability pops up for me, regardless of date or route. Any chance you can reach out to them? Thanks!
Ben/Lucky, the article is dated April 3rd, two days late. April Fools is April 1.
Seriously, this vertical livery may be good for a tall plane, like the A380. Otherwise it is wacky.
Just awful! Total fail.
At first I thought it was an April Fools joke but after the explanation that it was based on beach towels and umbrellas I had a different take and I think I kind of live it now.
The German aviation market is in dire need of competition- Lufthansa has been delivering a sub par product at high prices. They have consistently been laggards at passenger experience almost admonishing other airlines for “spoiling” customer expectations.
While the ME3 carriers give them a run for their money on eastbound routes, they have an open playing field on the more lucrative westbound long haul routes.
I hope Condor becomes the Virgin Atlantic of...
The German aviation market is in dire need of competition- Lufthansa has been delivering a sub par product at high prices. They have consistently been laggards at passenger experience almost admonishing other airlines for “spoiling” customer expectations.
While the ME3 carriers give them a run for their money on eastbound routes, they have an open playing field on the more lucrative westbound long haul routes.
I hope Condor becomes the Virgin Atlantic of Germany. I think their livery is fresh and bold. It is attention grabbing and exudes a fun and youthful vibe- in stark contrast to Lufthansa.
I love it!
It's hard to come up with original ideas for airline branding and I think this is a win. Distinctive, original and not too serious. Not trying to look premium which is good because it's not.
I completely agree with this sentiment. It's original! And at the very least, when you see this paint job on the taxi to the gate, you'll wonder 1) who the airline is and 2) where do they fly? <--that's branding! A quick google search will quickly answer that question. It's similar to an EK A380..."whoa! look at that plane. does it have TWO levels!?!? who are they and where do they fly?" next thing you...
I completely agree with this sentiment. It's original! And at the very least, when you see this paint job on the taxi to the gate, you'll wonder 1) who the airline is and 2) where do they fly? <--that's branding! A quick google search will quickly answer that question. It's similar to an EK A380..."whoa! look at that plane. does it have TWO levels!?!? who are they and where do they fly?" next thing you know, you're 30 mins deep into youtube vids about EK/dubai.
Its certainly distinctive and I give them points for trying something new. I kinda like it just for its distinctiveness while retaining a simplicity. We'll see if it stands the test of time!
I think the old saying applies here…”You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig”. I agree with the previous comment that they should spend their money improving the on board product - specifically the business class seat.
It says the planes need to be painted anyways. Not sure they can save money avoiding that.
Prison stripes?
Spirit: "No one's livery is more garish than ours!"
Condor: "Hold my bier."
As long as they upgrade customer service I'm onboard. No vacation when dealing with airline caused 15 hour delay and just a shrug from customer service. Had to apply to give for money back because of overnight delay. Pretty paint will mask underlying decay everytime.
Reminds me of the WWII Luftwaffe bombers in black and white stripes. Poor Choice IMO.
The Luftwaffe never did this. The black/white stripes were a signature of Allied planes during the Normandy invasion.
I have a headache looking at the livery haha. I wonder if this is going to cause vision / safety issues… reminds me of how WW2 convoys used to paint stripe to confused German U-boats
This is beautiful! I was always confused by how unmemorable (and boringly similar to LH) their livery was, and that's for such a cool niche airline. Glad to see that change and never realized it but vacation IS stripes. Sure makes me think of one looking at the planes
I really like it, actually. Especially because I think it will be a big hit with kids -- who will then have this livery as a shared cultural touchstone. It will evoke great memories of travel with family, and will hopefully ignite a love of flying for many of them.
I am LIVING! It's so cute. Finally there's a new livery that's bold, unique and unmistakable - unlike the majority of new liveries we've seen in the past years. White fuselage with blue tail had me reeeeally bored to death
Seems to be very much like Braniff's successful branding campaign. There was recently an episode about it on the CBC podcast Under The Influence with Terry O'Reilly.
Maybe They have a co-branding arrangement with Fruit Stripe Gum?
Is the leisure part supposed to be embodied by laying around in your pajamas all day because that is what the livery looks like.
I hope they have budgeted something for repainting. That paint job will grow old fast.
I had the same thought - looks like a pajama indeed!
I'm getting flashbacks of Braniff...
Wow and it isn’t even an April Fool’s prank!
Will the Condor plane in black & white stripes offer domestic routes via Sing Sing, Leavenworth, and San Quentin?
Wow, I love it. Coolest new livery we’ve had in ages. Incredibly out there, but still tastefully done and perfect for their market. Now let’s see if the rest of their brand can catch up to the hip new livery
Yes, the livery is fun and whatever, but maybe having that money invested in improving the in-cabin product would be better?
The new branding also comes with a new onboard product
Are upgraded seats included?
I agree with you: I can’t say I love it, but I can’t wait to see an A330 with those stripes! They will definitely stand out.
Already out:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FPfhdtQX0AIzjJu?format=jpg&name=large
This reminds me of what Braniff did in the 60’s. “The end of the plain plane.”
You beat me to it. Just what I was thinking.
To me, the livery is definitely a lot more interesting compared to what they had previously, although the livery does seem to look nicer up close rather than from afar.
...if the new livery would show "bath towels" on "beach chairs", Condors german heritage would be reflected even better
Looking at photos of the first painted plane it looks like the paintjob is not finished. But looking at it longer I find it cool. I especially like putting "est. 1956" next to the forward door and neat the tail logo. I think the Condor on the tail should be a bigger so it can be recognized
I definitely agree with the 'est. 1956' being especially cool!