Frankfurt International Airport is often the logical choice for travelers to popular destinations such as Baden-Baden, the Black Forest, and the Bodensee (Lake Constance) in Baden-Württemberg, Southwestern Germany. However, many smaller regional airports are used by especially low-cost airlines to fly passengers cheaper and closer to their intended destinations.
Baden-Württemberg, the federal state in Southwestern Germany, has three airports: Stuttgart (STR), Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB), and Bodensee-Friedrichshafen (FDH). Airports near the German border in France (Strasbourg) and Switzerland (Basel and Zurich) are also convenient to some destinations.
Stuttgart is not only the largest city in Baden-Württemberg but also the state capital. Stuttgart Airport (STR) is also by far the largest airport in the state.
Stuttgart Airport (STR) is used by both low-cost and regular airlines. Fortunately, for budget travelers, Stuttgart in recent years became a major hub for German low-cost airlines TUIfly and Germanwings. As a result, many cheap flights are available to both German and European holiday destinations. German low-cost airlines Air Berlin, Condor, and LTU also fly from Stuttgart.
Traditional full-service carriers such as Lufthansa also fly to Stuttgart Airport. Lufthansa has the most flights to both German and European destinations but many major European airlines have a presence at Stuttgart. Delta’s flight to Atlanta (ATL) is the only transatlantic flight from Stuttgart Airport.
Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB), also known as Baden-Airpark, is a much smaller airport with fewer flights and airlines. Most flights are on low-cost airlines such as TUIfly to Mediterranean holiday destinations. However, low-cost airline Air Berlin also flies to German cities (Berlin and Hamburg) while Ryanair flies to London-Stansted, Dublin, Barcelona, Rome, and Stockholm.
Bodensee Airport-Friedrichshafen (FDH) is a small regional airport a few miles from the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee). It is the base of low-cost airline Intersky, which flies to many German and European cities. Ryanair offers flights to London-Stansted, Dublin, and Liverpool. Lufthansa has flights only to Frankfurt to connect to its international network.
Several airports in France and Switzerland can also be convenient for travelers to Baden-Württemberg, especially to the Black Forest region.
Germany has many alternative airports but for most intercontinental travelers Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) combined with its excellent ground transportation links – both the high-speed Inter-City Express (ICE) train network and fast autobahns – is often the preferred choice.
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