Thessaloniki Rallies to Save Ryanair Base as Fee Dispute Threatens 37 Routes and 200 Jobs

Local officials, determination governors and concern leaders convened an exigency acme Wednesday to forestall Ryanair from closing its operational basal astatine Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport, informing that the nonaccomplishment of 37 routes and up to 200 aviation jobs would woody a superior stroke to bluish Greece's system and tourism sector.

The meeting, called by Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis, followed reports that the Irish low-cost bearer intends to retreat its 3 based craft from the airdrome and chopped a important information of its routes from October 2026.

The quality centers connected declaration renewal negotiations betwixt Ryanair and Fraport Greece, the backstage relation managing the airport.

The hose is said to beryllium resisting a projected 15 percent summation successful airdrome charges, threatening to redirect its fleet to cheaper European hubs.

Mr. Angeloudis said a preliminary virtual gathering with Ryanair executives and nonstop discussions with Fraport had taken spot Wednesday morning, and expressed cautious optimism that the unified beforehand presented by section stakeholders could assistance interruption the deadlock earlier the wintertime scheduling play is finalized.

"The archetypal triumph is that each section stakeholders are connected the aforesaid page," Mr. Angeloudis said, adding that preserving Thessaloniki's planetary connectivity is the city's apical priority.

Business leaders warned that losing the Ryanair basal would not lone destruct jobs straight tied to the airline's operations but ripple done a tourism assemblage that posted maturation of much than 5 percent successful aboriginal 2026.

Ryanair is Macedonia Airport's largest bearer and a captious root of low-cost entree from bluish and occidental Europe.