Ryanair to Close Thessaloniki Base Amid Dispute Over Airport Fees

The closure of the carnal basal puts astir 200 section jobs astatine risk. Credit: Ryanair

Ryanair has officially notified its unit of plans to adjacent its operational basal astatine Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” Airport (SKG) astatine the extremity of the summertime aviation play successful precocious October.

The Irish low-cost carrier volition reallocate the 3 craft presently stationed successful the Greek metropolis to alternate European hubs that connection little operating costs and much competitory fiscal incentives.

The determination straight stems from Ryanair’s fierce absorption to a caller hike successful airdrome fees implemented by the airport’s manager, Fraport Greece. In a bid to artifact the terms increases, the hose had filed an authoritative objection with the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority months ago; however, that entreaty was yet rejected.

A reduced formation docket and less routes retired of Thessaloniki?

The closure of the carnal basal puts astir 200 section jobs astatine risk, including pilots, formation attendants, and enactment unit presently employed astatine the Thessaloniki hub.

While Ryanair clarified that it is not abandoning the destination entirely, the departure of its stationed craft volition change its operational presence, apt resulting successful a reduced formation docket and less routes retired of Thessaloniki—particularly during the wintertime months.

Industry analysts enactment that this is not the archetypal clip the fund hose has shuttered a Greek basal successful retaliation to rising tariffs. Ryanair antecedently executed akin exits from its bases astatine Chania and Kos airports pursuing interest disputes.

However, successful some anterior cases, the airline’s wide formation schedules were not drastically impacted successful the agelong run, and the basal closures had nary important oregon lasting antagonistic effect connected full rider postulation to those destinations.