Ryanair has announced the cancellation of 12 European routes and the closure of two airports due to rising Greek airport costs
Budget airline Ryanair has confirmed that hundreds of thousands of seats will be axed, alongside the loss of 12 routes and closures at two airports.
On May 8, the carrier announced it would shut down its three-aircraft base in Thessaloniki, Greece, while scaling back operations at Athens Airport during winter 2026. The airline said the 'loss in off-peak winter connectivity is the direct result of the hopelessly uncompetitive costs charged at the German-run Fraport Greece monopoly and Athens Airport.
' In November 2024, the Greek government opted to slash the Airport Development Fee by 75% - dropping it from €12 to €3 per passenger - a move intended to boost year-round connectivity and tourism nationwide, according to the airline. 'However, most Greek airports, particularly those run by Fraport Greece, refused to pass the tax cut onto passengers and instead have pocketed the tax cut for themselves,' Ryanair's statement added.
'Since then, Fraport Greece have continued to increase charges, which are now +66% above their pre-Covid levels. Likewise, Athens Airport will hike charges this Winter.
' The airline's statement continued: 'Greek airports are no longer competitive in the off-peak shoulder and Winter months, when the tourism industry's reliance on low-fare connectivity is most acute. ' The airline stated it has been 'left with no choice' but to shift operations to more cost-effective nations including Albania, regional Italy, and Sweden, where airports have benefited from government tax cuts and passed those savings onwards.
Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness warned: 'The removal of three based aircraft, 500,000 seats and 10 routes from Thessaloniki for Winter '26 will be devastating for the city and region, as Ryanair provided 90% of international capacity to Thessaloniki last Winter.
'Unfortunately, there will now be less low-cost air fares for Thessaloniki's citizens and visitors, and year-round tourism will be harmed as a result. ' The following 12 routes will be lost: Thessaloniki to Berlin Thessaloniki to Chania Thessaloniki to Frankfurt-H Thessaloniki to Gothenburg Thessaloniki to Heraklion Thessaloniki to Niederrhein Thessaloniki to Poznan Thessaloniki to Stockholm Thessaloniki to Venice-T Thessaloniki to Zagreb Athens to Milan-M Chania to Paphos The following two airports will be closed: Chania Heraklion
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