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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.
- Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair announced on Friday that it will close its Thessaloniki base by end of October and cut 700,000 winter seats across Greece, suspending operations in Chania and Heraklion during the low tourist season.
- The airline attributed the reductions to airports' failure to pass on a 75% Airport Development Fee cut to passengers; Fraport Greece's charges have increased by more than 66% since 2019, making Greek airports uncompetitive.
- Three aircraft will be removed from Thessaloniki, cutting 500,000 seats—a 60% reduction—since Ryanair provided 90% of the city's international low-cost capacity last winter, making the withdrawal significant for regional tourism.
- These three aircraft are being transferred to Albania, regional Italy, and Sweden, where airports passed on government tax cuts; the relocations will bring more connectivity, tourism, and jobs to those regions during winter.
- Ryanair presented a development plan to the Greek government proposing 10 new aircraft, more than $1 billion in investment, and 50 new routes, but implementation depends on the German-run Fraport Greece monopoly passing on tax cuts.
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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.
Ryanair Closes Thessaloniki Base and Suspends Winter Flights to Heraklion and Chania
Kostas Raptis Ryanair announces a massive reduction in Greek winter flights for 2026, closing bases in Thessaloniki and Crete due to high airport fees. The post Ryanair Closes Thessaloniki Base and Suspends Winter Flights to Heraklion and Chania appeared first on Argophilia.
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Total News Sources18
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
C 80%
R 20%
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