Ryanair has announced significant operational changes for the winter season of 2026, including the cancellation of 12 routes and the closure of its Thessaloniki base. These changes come as a response to rising airport costs and the inability of Fraport Greece and Athens Airport to implement government tax reductions.
Impact on Routes and Capacity
The decision will lead to:
- Reduction of 700,000 seats
- 45% decrease in passenger capacity
- Suspension of flights at Chania and Heraklion airports
Jason McGuinness, Chief Commercial Officer at Ryanair, voiced his concern, stating that this reduction would severely affect Thessaloniki and the surrounding region, which relied on Ryanair for 90% of its international capacity last winter.
Affected Routes from Thessaloniki
The following 12 routes will be discontinued:
- Berlin, Germany
- Chania, Greece
- Frankfurt-Hahn, Germany
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Heraklion, Greece
- Niederrhein, Germany
- Poznan, Poland
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Venice Treviso, Italy
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Milan-Bergamo from Athens
- Paphos from Chania
Reasons for the Changes
Ryanair attributes these cuts to a significant increase in airport charges, which have reportedly risen by 66% since 2019. This financial pressure has led to the removal of three based aircraft and a substantial capacity drop.
Potential Reallocation of Resources
Aircraft and capacity will be shifted to locations in Albania, regional Italy, and Sweden, where airports have embraced government tax savings. Ryanair encourages Greece to adopt similar strategies to maintain year-round tourism and connectivity.
Concerns Regarding the EU’s New Entry/Exit System
In addition to route cancellations, Ryanair has called for a halt to the implementation of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES). This system, designed for tracking non-EU travelers, has faced criticism due to long wait times and operational disruptions.
Recent Travel Delays
There have been reports of severe delays at passport control, which have led to passengers missing flights. The EES rollout has drawn backlash from various airlines, including Jet2, which also seeks its suspension.
As Greece has delayed the introduction of the EES to protect its tourism sector, the ongoing situation raises critical questions about the future of low-cost travel in Europe.
