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Mallorca: The rise of the German Mediterranean paradise!
Find out how Mallorca became a popular holiday destination in the 1950s and which historic flights shaped it.
Mallorca: The rise of the German Mediterranean paradise!
Until 1956, Mallorca was an unknown island in the Mediterranean for most Germans, considered too far and too expensive for a vacation. But with the emergence of Deutsche Flugdienst GmbH, the forerunner of today's Condor, this changed abruptly. The airline began operations in the spring of 1956 and offered flights to this hitherto little-noticed holiday destination for the first time. The first flight was operated on March 29, 1956 from Frankfurt to Palestine and Egypt, before Mallorca was added as a further destination that same year. The flights to the popular holiday island were initially carried out with propeller planes by US military pilots and were quite expensive for the times - more expensive than a car trip to Italy. A flight to Mallorca cost around $465 for 14 days, which meant four months' 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 passengers spirits and cigarettes. Initially, the customer base was mainly made up of members of the American military administration, before German vacationers discovered the island for themselves.
Changes in travel in the 60s and 70s
The 1960s and 1970s were characterized by a rise in wealth and a growing interest in charter flights. Flight prices became increasingly cheaper, which led to the distinction between charter and scheduled flights becoming more and more blurred. The concept of low-cost airlines, which includes Ryanair, began to change the traditional airline landscape and led to a decline in traditional airlines.
Today Condor, Europe's oldest holiday airline, is celebrating 60 years of charter flights and has developed significantly over that time. The industry has changed from the initial offer of three Vickers Viking turboprops and the high travel price. Passengers now enjoy different classes and greater comfort as the concept of travel continues to change. Historical details about this development come from the book “Condor – holiday airline with tradition” by Karl-Peter Ritter, which enables a comprehensive look at the development of mass tourism as well World describes.