Cheap Flights to Baden-Württemberg
Flying on Low-Cost Airlines to Airports in Southwestern Germany
Feb 26, 2008
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.
Cheap Flights on Low-Cost Airlines to Stuttgart Airport (STR)
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.
- Stuttgart’s favorable location at the crossing of major autobahns and railway lines makes it convenient for travelers to most destinations in the region.
Cheap Flights on Low-Cost Airlines to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB)
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.
- Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) is very convenient for travelers to Baden-Baden and the Black Forest. It is also a good choice for budget travelers to Strasbourg in Alsace, France.
Cheap Flights on Low-Cost Airlines to Bodensee Airport-Friedrichshafen (FDH)
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.
- Bodensee Airport-Friedrichshafen (FDH) is convenient for German destinations on Lake Constance such as Konstanz, Meersburg, and Lindau, as well as to ski resorts in the Allgäu region such as Oberstdorf. It is also convenient to the Austrian Vorarlberg ski region and Bregenz, Liechtenstein, and Eastern Switzerland.
Alternative Airports in France and Switzerland
Several airports in France and Switzerland can also be convenient for travelers to Baden-Württemberg, especially to the Black Forest region.
- EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL, MLH, EAP) is at the meeting point of Switzerland, France, and Germany and jointly used by all three countries, as the rather long name indicates. It is most often simply referred to as Basel Airport. It is increasingly popular with low-cost airlines flying to European destinations and offers easy access to the southern Black Forest.
- Strasbourg Airport (SXB) has many flights to French cities and European capitals. However, the absence of low-cost airlines makes Strasbourg often an expensive choice. Budget travelers are more likely to use Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) as a cheap alternative when traveling to Strasbourg than vice versa.
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) with its large number of European and intercontinental flights are convenient for travelers to especially the southern Black Forest and Bodensee (Lake Constance) regions.
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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