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Ryanair to Shut Thessaloniki Base in Greece Due to High Fees, Says Senior Executive
The airline said high airport charges and unpassed tax cuts will drive 700,000 fewer seats and 12 route cancellations this winter.
- On Friday, Ryanair announced it will close its base in Thessaloniki at the end of October and reduce Athens operations for winter 2026, eliminating 700,000 seats and 12 routes across Greece while suspending service in Chania and Heraklion.
- Airport operators absorbed the Greek government's 75% Airport Development Fee reduction from November 2024 instead of passing it to travelers, while Fraport Greece raised charges more than 66% above pre-pandemic levels since 2019.
- Ryanair provided 90% of Thessaloniki's international low-cost capacity last year, making the removal of three aircraft and 500,000 seats—a 60% reduction compared to winter 2025—particularly significant for the region.
- The three withdrawn aircraft will relocate to Albania, regional Italy, and Sweden, where airports have transferred government tax cuts to airlines, creating more connectivity and jobs in those regions during winter.
- Ryanair presented a development plan to Greece for 10 new aircraft, more than $1 billion investment, and 50 new routes, though implementation depends on the German-run Fraport Greece monopoly passing on tax cuts to enable competitive fares.
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Ryanair to shut Thessaloniki base in Greece due to high fees
Ryanair RYA.I will close its operating base at Greece’s Thessaloniki airport this winter and cut the number of flights in and out of the city after airport operator Fraport FRAG.DE hiked annual fees, a senior executive said on Friday. Speaking to reporters in Athens, Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness said there was no progress in talks between the low-cost carrier and Fraport, which has raised charges at a number of Greek airpo…
·Nicosia, Cyprus
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Ryanair closes its airport base at Thessaloniki airport and, from winter onwards, cuts large parts of Greece's offer. The background to this is an escalating dispute with Fraport Greece, the airport operator, about fee increases.
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Total News Sources19
Leaning Left0Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
C 67%
R 33%
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