Fraport Greece Rejects Ryanair Claims Over Thessaloniki Base Closure

Airport operator Fraport Greece on Friday issued a curt rejection of Ryanair’s claims over its decision to scale back operations in Greece, escalating a dispute that follows the airline’s announcement that it will close its Thessaloniki base during the upcoming winter season.

In a strongly worded statement, the majority German-owned airport operator described the Irish carrier’s arguments as “entirely unfounded and wholly pretextual,” insisting that the move reflects Ryanair’s own commercial strategy rather than airport pricing policies. It added that allegations regarding aviation charges and development fees set by the Greek state are “not valid,” arguing instead that the airline’s decisions are driven by profitability and network planning.

The dispute erupted after Ryanair announced in Athens that it would withdraw three aircraft from Thessaloniki and cut 12 routes across Greece, warning of a loss of around 700,000 seats and a projected 45% reduction in winter traffic at the northern airport. The airline also confirmed wider reductions in its Greek network, including the suspension of seasonal operations at the Chania and Heraklion bases on Crete.