The German holiday airline uses several Airbus A330 from Smart Lynx. Passengers criticize Condor’s wet lease partner for immobile seats, a lack of entertainment and communication problems with the crew.
Smart Lynx has been on the road for Condor with an Airbus A330-300 since July. The ten-year-old aircraft belonging to the Latvian wet lease specialist flies from Frankfurt to New York and Toronto for the German airline. It is white and bears the Condor lettering as well as a blue and white striped tail fin. Its identifier: 9H-SMD
Smart Lynx has been on the road for Condor with a second A330-300 for a few days, heading to Punta Cana. It bears the registration number 9H-SMF. A third A330-300 is also available as a reserve (9H-SMG). These two planes are around eight and a half years old.
Anger over Punta Cana flight
Smart Lynx writes in a statement regarding their planes that are deployed for Condor: “In the cabin, the passengers are looked following by both a German-speaking Condor cabin crew and an English-speaking Smart Lynx crew.” The meals are provided by the German holiday airline.
However, the offer does not work smoothly. Several travelers who traveled to Punta Cana on Condor flight DE2208 on December 11 – operated by Smart Lynx with the A330 with registration number 9H-SMF – reported to aeroTELEGRAPH. The passengers were not only annoyed that they sat on the plane for around two and a half hours before it took off.
Immovable seats without screens
“Seats that cannot be moved, even in expensive business class – not one in 18, but three,” writes one who was sitting there. The annoyed passenger also reports: “No screens for films, entertainment or other information.”
When asked by aeroTELEGRAPH, Smart Lynx explained that the problem with the business class seats was known. “A repair is already planned,” said the wet lease airline.
Communication problems on board
Smart Lynx goes on to say: “It has been shown that our passengers are increasingly bringing their entertainment with them on their own devices, so that in this price-sensitive market we are forgoing an entertainment system in favor of the tariffs.” A Condor spokeswoman explains: “On board, inflight entertainment is offered via Fly Stream, which can be accessed via your own mobile device.”
Two travelers reported that the cabin crew had problems communicating with guests and each other due to poor English. Flight attendants had shown themselves dissatisfied. “What would happen in an emergency if no one understood anyone?” asks a traveler from Premium Economy.
Mixed cabin crew
“I’ve been a frequent flyer for 35 years and know a lot of airlines,” says the business class passenger. “But something like that shouldn’t be and shouldn’t be the demand for holiday airlines.” He was really appalled “that such standards still exist”.
Smart Lynx asserts that its entire crew has “valid English certification, which prepares them to deal with medical emergencies in a common language.” Nevertheless, it can happen, especially on a new route, that there are discrepancies. Of course, they want to fix this as soon as possible.
Condor is converting its own fleet
The Condor spokeswoman says: “On board the flights there are also Condor crew members who, together with Smart Lynx, are responsible for safety on board and service.” We very much regret the feedback on the flight in question and, together with Smart Lynx, we are doing everything we can to offer a pleasant flight experience.
As for the background to the cooperation, she explained that Smart Lynx was used on individual routes, since the company’s own long-haul fleet was currently operated by Boeing 767 on Airbus A330 and later convert to A330 Neo. Passengers would be “proactively informed” regarding the use of the partner.
