Fraport Greece rejects Ryanair claims over Thessaloniki base closure
Fraport Greece on Friday rejected claims by Ryanair regarding the airline’s decision to scale back operations in Greece and close its base in Thessaloniki during the upcoming winter season.
In a strongly worded statement, the majority German-owned airport operator described Ryanair’s arguments as “entirely unfounded and wholly pretextual,” insisting that the airline’s decision reflects its own commercial strategy rather than airport pricing policies.
Fraport Greece also dismissed allegations concerning aviation charges and state-imposed development fees, saying the carrier’s operational adjustments are primarily driven by profitability considerations and network planning.
The dispute intensified after Ryanair announced in Athens that it would withdraw three aircraft from Thessaloniki and cut 12 routes across Greece, warning that the move could reduce winter traffic at Makedonia Airport by around 45% and eliminate approximately 700,000 seats.
The airline also confirmed wider reductions across its Greek network, including the suspension of seasonal operations at its bases in Chania and Heraklion.
Ryanair’s chief commercial officer said the airline had previously accounted for nearly 90% of Thessaloniki’s international winter traffic and accused Fraport Greece of increasing airport charges by around 66% compared with pre-pandemic levels.
He added that Ryanair was shifting capacity to markets such as Albania, regional Italy and Sweden, where lower airport fees and government incentives better support winter travel demand.
Fraport Greece responded that Thessaloniki Airport remains a major regional hub served by more than 40 airlines, connecting northern Greece to over 90 destinations in 33 countries.
The operator highlighted infrastructure investments exceeding €100 million and said passenger traffic at the airport has increased by approximately 40% during its management period, describing the facility as modernized and capable of handling continued growth.
The disagreement reflects a broader pattern across Europe, where Ryanair has repeatedly reduced capacity or threatened withdrawals over airport charges and aviation taxes, including recent disputes in Germany, Denmark and Spain.
Separately, Ryanair employees in Greece called for dialogue between authorities, unions and local stakeholders, warning that winter service reductions could force workers to choose between relocation and unpaid leave, potentially affecting job security at impacted bases.
Source:Tovima
