SAT’S FIRST TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT

On May 17, 2024, the region’s first commercial transatlantic nonstop flight left San Antonio to Frankfurt, Germany on Condor Airlines.

The work of so many SAT stakeholders, local and state officials and business and community leaders paid off in helping San Antonio secure this milestone.

And, for all the excitement, a lot was riding on the success of this flight. It was imperative to securing future flight options, showing a demand in our region for intercontinental travel, and continuing the recent momentum of exciting additions to the roster of nonstop destinations. And not only was this the launch of the first transatlantic nonstop flight, but it was with a new carrier to the region, with little familiarity in the market.

On the heels of rebranding the San Antonio International Airport, KGBTexas played a key role in amplifying this monumental event for the airport, and the region.

Condor Week

Long before the flight launched in May, the collaborative efforts of SAT, Condor Airlines and KGBTexas began raising awareness in the community.

In early 2024, we executed a public relations and community engagement plan to support awareness and familiarity of Condor Airlines across the San Antonio region.

Fortunately, Condor Airlines brought a lot to the table: Condor is a European value carrier that dubs itself “Germany’s most popular leisure airline.” Add to that, Frankfurt Airport is among the world’s most-connected airports, offering travelers connections to top destinations in Europe, Africa and Asia.

A highlight of PR and community engagement efforts was Condor Education Week, a week-long series of events that coordinated business and cultural engagement in the community with SAT and Condor.

The agency coordinated desk-side meetings with local media outlets that resulted in 5 high-profile stories, approximately $30,000 earned editorial value, and a reach of 17 million.

Throughout the week, Condor and SAT connected with key industry leaders and members of the business community, including members of the H-E-B global procurement team and regional Chambers of Commerce, sharing editorial points and a digital toolkit with custom shareable social media posts and educational materials.