Ryanair cuts 12 routes in Greece — 10 from Thessaloniki & calls for a “freeze” on airport charges
Ryanair announced cuts to 12 routes across four Greek airports for winter 2026, including ten from Thessaloniki, where it will close its three-aircraft base, citing high airport charges and lack of competitiveness. The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, accused Fraport Greece of monopoly practices and called for a freeze on airport fees, while Fraport dismissed the claims as unfounded and attributed the decision to Ryanair’s commercial strategy.
Ryanair will reduce its winter 2026 operations in Greece by 45%, cutting 700,000 seats and 12 routes across four airports, with ten of those departing from Thessaloniki. The airline is shutting down its base of three aircraft in Thessaloniki for the winter season, marking a significant blow to the city’s tourism and connectivity. Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, blamed high airport charges and monopoly practices by Fraport Greece, which manages Thessaloniki Airport, for the decision. He demanded a freeze on airport fees, arguing that current costs hinder growth, jobs, and tourism in Greece. Fraport Greece rejected Ryanair’s accusations, stating that claims about aviation charges and the Airport Development Fee were unfounded and pretextual. The airport operator emphasized that any fee increases align with the concession agreement signed with the Greek state and reflect 90% of inflation adjustments. Fraport also noted that Ryanair’s decision stems from its commercial planning and profitability concerns, rather than operational issues at the airport. The cuts come during Greece’s low-demand winter season, compounded by geopolitical instability in the Middle East, rising fuel prices, and potential supply shortages. Thessaloniki Airport remains a key hub, connecting the city and wider Macedonia region to 33 countries and 93 destinations, with over 40 airlines operating there. Fraport highlighted its €100 million investment in upgrading the airport’s infrastructure, which has seen a 40% traffic increase since 2017. Ryanair’s move follows a pattern of withdrawing from less profitable routes while retaining flexibility to return if conditions improve. McGuinness stated that if Greece’s operating environment became more competitive, the airline would consider increasing winter capacity. However, no decisions have been made regarding the 2027 summer season. Fraport expressed respect for Ryanair’s business decisions while underscoring its commitment to maintaining modern infrastructure at Thessaloniki Airport to support growing passenger demand.
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