Athens, Greece. Ryanair will close its operating base at Thessaloniki airport this winter and reduce flights to and from the city after airport operator Fraport increased annual fees, a senior executive said.
Fee dispute and competing statements
Speaking to reporters in Athens on Friday, Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness said there was no progress in talks with Fraport, which he said has raised charges at a number of Greek airports. McGuinness said charges were now 66% above pre-Covid levels.
Fraport Greece said claims linking Ryanair’s decision to airport charges or the Airport Development Fee imposed by the Greek state were unfounded. It said the reduction in winter operations at Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia was related exclusively to Ryanair’s commercial strategy, business model, and profitability considerations.
Capacity cuts in Thessaloniki and elsewhere in Greece
Ryanair will remove three aircraft based in Thessaloniki, cutting 500,000 seats and 10 routes this winter. McGuinness did not say whether the move would lead to job cuts among the 100 people who work at the Thessaloniki base.
Ryanair will also cut capacity at Athens airport for the upcoming winter, resulting in a combined loss of 700,000 seats and 12 routes across Greece. McGuinness said operations at Chania and Heraklion airports will be suspended during off-peak months.
Wider network context
Ryanair, Europe’s largest carrier by passenger numbers, has 95 operating hubs across the continent where it keeps aircraft and bases cabin crew. The airline last month announced the closure of its base in Berlin, citing higher fees and taxes.
How will the reduced winter schedule affect your travel plans to or from Thessaloniki?
