Ryanair has announced a major reduction in its Greece operations for the Winter 2026 season, including the closure of its three-aircraft base in Thessaloniki and significant cuts at Athens Airport.
The airline said the changes will remove 700,000 seats from the Greek market, representing a 45% reduction compared with Winter 2025 levels. A total of 12 routes will also be dropped as part of the restructuring.
Ryanair described the cuts as the direct result of what it called “uncompetitive” airport charges imposed by Fraport Greece and Athens Airport.
Airline Accuses Airports Of Keeping Tax Savings
The dispute centres on Greece’s Airport Development Fee reduction introduced in November 2024, when the Greek government lowered the charge from €12 to €3 per passenger during the winter period.
According to Ryanair, airports were expected to pass those savings on to passengers and airlines in order to stimulate year-round tourism and improve winter connectivity.
However, the carrier claims many airports, particularly those operated by Fraport Greece, instead retained the financial benefit while continuing to raise airport charges.
Ryanair said fees at Fraport-operated airports are now 66% higher than pre-pandemic levels, while Athens Airport is also preparing further increases for Winter 2026.
Thessaloniki Faces Biggest Impact
The airline confirmed that Thessaloniki will lose three based aircraft as part of the cuts, representing what Ryanair described as a US$300 million investment withdrawal.
The city will also lose 500,000 seats and 10 routes compared with Winter 2025 levels.
Routes being discontinued from Thessaloniki include services to Berlin, Frankfurt-Hahn, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Venice Treviso, Zagreb and several domestic Greek destinations.
Additional cuts include the suspension of the Athens to Milan Malpensa route and the Chania to Paphos service.
Ryanair also confirmed that winter operations at both Chania and Heraklion will be suspended.
Aircraft To Be Shifted To Other European Markets
The airline said aircraft removed from Greece will instead be deployed to countries and regions considered more competitive during the winter season, including Albania, regional Italy and Sweden.
Ryanair argued those markets have benefited from governments and airports passing aviation tax reductions directly to passengers, helping stimulate demand and tourism growth.
Growth Plans Put On Hold
Ryanair said it had presented a long-term expansion proposal to the Greek government that included increasing annual passenger traffic to 12 million passengers, adding 10 more aircraft and launching 50 new routes over the next five years.
The carrier estimated the plan would have represented more than US$1 billion in additional investment.
However, the airline warned that future expansion in Greece now depends on airport charges being frozen and the Airport Development Fee reduction being fully passed on to passengers.
Ryanair Warns Of Tourism Impact
Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness said the reduction in winter capacity would damage year-round tourism and reduce access to low-cost fares for travellers.
He warned that Thessaloniki would be particularly affected because Ryanair accounted for around 90% of the city’s international capacity during the previous winter season.
McGuinness said Greece still has the opportunity to secure significant year-round growth if airport operators change their pricing policies and support improved winter connectivity.
