Ryanair reduces flights in Greece: minus 700,000 seats and closure of Thessaloniki base

Ryanair has announced a major scale-back of its operations in Greece for the 2026 winter season. The carrier is closing its base in Thessaloniki, withdrawing three aircraft, and reducing total capacity by 700,000 seats, while also canceling 12 routes from the country. Affected destinations include Berlin, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Chania, and Zagreb.

The company attributes the decision to rising operating costs at Greek airports and the insufficient effect of the reduction in infrastructure development fees. According to Ryanair, high airport fees and the policies of management companies, including Fraport Greece, reduce the country's competitiveness during the winter period. Additionally, it is noted that some airports are planning new fee increases.

As a result, the largest cuts are in Thessaloniki, where traffic volume will decrease by 60% compared to last year. Activity is also being restricted in Athens, Chania, and Heraklion, exacerbating the overall decline in winter traffic. The company claims that passenger flow is shifting to more competitive countries, including Italy and Sweden.

Does Ryanair fly to Cyprus and will the decision affect the island

Ryanair continues to operate flights to Cyprus and has not announced any cuts to its Cyprus service. The changes apply exclusively to the Greek network and do not directly affect routes to the island.

However, indirect influence is possible: some tourists who previously flew through Greece with connections may change their routes. Overall, no direct reduction in passenger traffic to Cyprus is expected as a result of this decision.