Ryanair announced the suspension of its base operations in Thessaloniki for the winter period of 2026. The base serves three aircraft of the company.
At the same time, a reduction in capacity at Athens Airport for the winter of 2026 was also announced.
This decision will lead to a loss of 700,000 passenger seats (-45%) and 12 routes for the winter period of 2026, according to the company.
Specifically, as announced, “the catastrophic loss of connectivity during the low tourist season is a direct result of the excessively uncompetitive charges imposed by the German-managed monopoly of Fraport Greece and Athens Airport.”
According to the company, the Greek government made the right decision to reduce the Airport Development Fee (ADF) by 75% — from 12 euros to 3 euros per passenger — from November 2024, which should have directly boosted connectivity and tourism throughout the year in Greece. However, most Greek airports, particularly those managed by Fraport Greece, refused to pass on this reduction to passengers and instead kept the benefit for themselves. Since then, Fraport Greece has continued to increase its charges, which are now over 66% higher compared to pre-Covid levels. Similarly, Athens Airport will also increase its charges this winter.
As a result, Greek airports are no longer competitive during the winter and shoulder tourist seasons, when the tourism industry’s reliance on low-cost airlines is greatest. Ryanair states that it had no choice but to transfer its capacity to more competitive countries, such as Albania, regional Italy, and Sweden, where airports passed on the government’s tax reductions to passengers.
Ryanair’s reduced schedule for winter 2026 in Greece will include:
* Removal of 3 aircraft from the Thessaloniki base (investment of $300 million)
* Reduction of 700,000 seats (-45% compared to winter 2025)
* Cancellation of 12 routes
(Thessaloniki to Berlin, Chania, Frankfurt-Hahn, Gothenburg, Heraklion, Niederrhein, Poznan, Stockholm, Venice-Treviso, Zagreb, and Athens to Milan-Bergamo, as well as Chania to Paphos)
* Closure of 2 airports (Chania and Heraklion)
Ryanair also presented an ambitious growth plan to the Greek government, aiming to increase passenger traffic to 12 million passengers annually (+70%), add 10 additional aircraft (investment of over $1 billion), and launch 50 new routes within the next five years. However, according to the company, this plan can only be implemented if airport charges are frozen and if the 75% reduction of the ADF is passed on to passengers at all airports.
Otherwise, Greece will continue to lose investment opportunities, tourism, and passenger traffic growth, as long as Fraport Greece and Athens International Airport continue — as Ryanair states — the “shameful practice” of withholding this tax reduction.
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, stated:
“Ryanair regrets to announce the closure of its base in Thessaloniki and reductions in Athens for winter 2026, which will result in the loss of 700,000 seats and 12 routes across Greece, as well as the suspension of operations in Chania and Heraklion during the low tourist season. These preventable reductions in air traffic are a direct result of the airports’ failure to pass on the ADF reduction, particularly in Thessaloniki where Fraport Greece’s monopoly has increased charges by +66% since 2019.”
“The removal of 3 aircraft, 500,000 seats (-60% compared to winter 2025) and 10 routes from Thessaloniki for winter 2026 will be devastating for the city and the region, as Ryanair provided 90% of Thessaloniki’s international low-cost capacity last winter. Unfortunately, there will no longer be low fares for the citizens and visitors of Thessaloniki, while tourism will also be affected all year round. These aircraft will be transferred to Albania, regional Italy, and Sweden, where airports passed on the government’s tax reductions — a fact that will lead to greater connectivity, tourism, and jobs in these regions during the winter.”
“There is an opportunity for Greece to secure significant year-round passenger traffic growth. However, this investment can only be realized if the German-managed monopoly of Fraport Greece fully passes on the Greek government’s tax reduction from November 2024, allowing airlines like Ryanair to offer the connectivity needed to reduce Greece’s chronic seasonality.”
Source: ANA-MPA
