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Since October 15, 2026, Condor has been operating daily flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Abu Dhabi. This marks the first time since 2017 that the capital of the United Arab Emirates is directly accessible from Berlin without a layover. The flights are operated in a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways, which maintains its hub in Abu Dhabi. This partnership not only offers direct flights to the Gulf but also facilitates connecting flights within Etihad’s network to destinations such as Bangkok, Hanoi, or Sydney.
Initial Delay Due to Regional Tensions
The route was originally scheduled to launch in mid-June 2026, but Condor postponed the start due to the tense security situation in the Middle East. Lufthansa and Eurowings have also suspended their Abu Dhabi flights until October 24, 2026, inclusive.
Flight Schedule and Aircraft Details
Until the end of the summer flight schedule on October 24, flight DE2552 departs daily from BER at 16:40 and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 01:00 local time the following day, after a six-hour and 20-minute flight. The return flight departs at 02:15 local time and lands in Berlin at 07:15 after seven hours.
With the start of the winter flight schedule on October 25, when clocks in Germany are set back, the time difference to Abu Dhabi will increase from two to three hours. The outbound flight will then depart Berlin at 10:00 and reach Abu Dhabi at 19:20 local time. The return flight will land at BER at 06:20. An Airbus A320neo with 180 seats is being used for the route, and currently, only Economy Class bookings are available.
Connecting Flights to Asia and Australia
Connecting flights with Etihad can be booked directly through Condor, with baggage checked through to the final destination. Members of the Etihad Guest frequent flyer program can also earn and redeem miles on Condor flights to Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Chief Commercial Officer at Condor, views Abu Dhabi as a significant expansion of the long-haul network. According to Lena Havia, Vice President Alliances & Joint Ventures at Etihad, the connection is planned for year-round operation, and the partnership is set for further expansion. Condor also plans to fly daily from Frankfurt to Abu Dhabi with the winter flight schedule, and from early November, it will operate its own flights from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok.
Historical Context: Air Berlin’s Previous Direct Service
A non-stop connection between Berlin and Abu Dhabi existed previously when Air Berlin flew from Tegel to the Emirate. Etihad was then the largest shareholder of the airline. Following its insolvency filing, Air Berlin canceled the route in mid-September 2017, weeks before ceasing flight operations entirely on October 27, 2017.
Travel Advisory from the German Federal Foreign Office
Travelers planning a trip to the Emirates should closely monitor the current security advice from the German Federal Foreign Office. The office currently advises against non-essential travel to the United Arab Emirates. For tourist stays of up to 90 days within 180 days, German citizens do not require a visa. However, a biometric passport valid for at least six months upon entry is necessary; an ID card or temporary passport is not sufficient.
Source: https://www.holidaycheck.de/magazin/news/condor-direktverbindung-berlin-abu-dhabi
