Mallorca: The rise of the Mediterranean paradise of the Germans!

Mallorca: The rise of the Mediterranean paradise of the Germans!

Mallorca, Spanien - until 1956 Mallorca was an unknown island in the Mediterranean for most Germans, which was considered too far and too expensive for a vacation. However, this changed abruptly with the advent of Deutsche Flugdienst GmbH, the forerunner of today's Condor. In the spring of 1956 the airline started operating and for the first time offered flights to this holiday destination, which was not very noticeable until then. The first flight was carried out from Frankfurt to Palestine and Egypt on March 29, 1956, before Mallorca was added as a further destination in the same year. The flights to the popular holiday island were initially carried out with propeller aircraft from US military pilots and were quite expensive for the conditions at that time-more expensive than a car trip to Italy. A flight to Mallorca cost about $ 465 for 14 days, which meant four monthly wages for an average family, reports SWR .

The report from 1957 clearly shows how quickly Mallorca became popular as a holiday destination. The first German vacationers experienced the island very differently than we know it today. Passengers dressed elegantly, often in suits, ties, costumes and hats. Stewardesses wore white gloves and offered the traveling spirits and cigarettes. Initially, the customer base was mainly composed of members of the American military administration before the German vacationers discovered the island for themselves.

change in traveling in the 1960s and 1970s

The 1960s and 1970s were characterized by an increase in prosperity and a growing interest in charter flights. The flight prices were increasingly cheaper, which meant that the disconnection between charter and line flights dissolved more and more. The concept of low -cost airlines, which also includes Ryanair, began to change the traditional airline landscape and led to a decline in classic airlines.

Today Condor, Europe's oldest holiday airline, has celebrated 60 years of charter flight and has developed considerably in that time. The industry has changed from the initial offer with three Vickers Viking Turboprops and the high travel price. In the meantime, passengers enjoy different classes and more comfort, while the concept of travel continues to change. Historical details about this development come from the book "Condor-Ferienflieger with tradition" by Karl-Peter Ritter, which enables a comprehensive look at the development of mass tourism, as well as Welt describes.