Ryanair Cuts Greek Flights and Seats for Winter 2026 Amid Fee Dispute

Budget airline Ryanair has announced significant operational reductions in Greece for the winter 2026 season, including the complete closure of its Thessaloniki base and suspended operations at Crete’s Chania and Heraklion airports during the off-peak period. The carrier will also reduce capacity at Athens Airport. These changes result in the cancellation of 12 routes and approximately 700,000 seats. Ryanair attributes this decision to uncompetitive costs charged by Fraport Greece and Athens Airport, alleging that recent government reductions in Airport Development Fees have not been passed on to consumers. Consequently, affected aircraft will be reallocated to Albania, regional Italy, and Sweden. Fraport Greece has rejected these claims as unfounded, highlighting its investments in infrastructure. The affected routes include connections from Thessaloniki to major European cities like Berlin, Stockholm, and Venice, as well as domestic links within Greece. Ryanair suggests these cuts are preventable if airport operators adjust their pricing strategies, warning that Greece risks losing tourism and investment opportunities until fee structures become more competitive.