Ryanair, Europe’s leading airline, has announced the closure of its Thessaloniki base as part of its Winter 2026 operational adjustments. This decision will see a decline in capacity at Athens Airport and the loss of 700,000 seats, which accounts for a 45% reduction compared to the previous winter season. Additionally, the airline will discontinue 12 routes as it reallocates resources to more cost-competitive markets.
Impact of Fraport Greece and Airport Fees
The drastic measures stem from high charges imposed by Fraport Greece, which manages several airports in the country, and the cut of airport fees not being passed on to passengers. The Greek government had previously announced a 75% reduction in the Airport Development Fee (ADF), decreasing it from €12 to €3 per passenger. However, many airports, especially those operated by Fraport, did not follow suit, retaining these savings instead of lowering costs for travelers.
Details of Capacity Cuts
As a result of the operational changes, the following will occur:
- Closure of the Thessaloniki base, losing 3 aircraft.
- Reduction of 700,000 seats, representing a 45% cut.
- Discontinuation of 12 routes, including:
- Thessaloniki to Berlin
- Thessaloniki to Chania
- Thessaloniki to Frankfurt-H
- And others including Gothenburg and Venice-T
- Suspension of operations at Chania and Heraklion airports.
Ryanair’s Future Plans and Challenges
Ryanair had communicated an intent to significantly expand its operations in Greece. Plans included increasing passenger traffic to 12 million annually by introducing 50 new routes and basing an additional 10 aircraft. However, these aspirations hinge on the condition that airport charges remain stable and that the ADF reduction is effectively passed on to customers.
Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, expressed sentiments of regret over the cuts, highlighting the negative impact on Thessaloniki and its residents. He emphasized that the airline previously provided substantial international capacity to the city and that this reduction would adversely affect low-cost travel options and year-round tourism.
Furthermore, Mr. McGuinness warned that unless Fraport Greece adopts a more passenger-friendly pricing strategy, Greece would forfeit further investment and tourism growth opportunities.
Regional competitors like Albania and certain parts of Italy and Sweden, which effectively transmitted tax savings to their aviation sectors, are set to benefit from Ryanair’s resource reallocations. This shift raises concerns about Greece’s ability to foster competitive air travel and maintain robust tourism, especially during the off-peak winter months.
