Ryanair to leave “Makedonia” Airport, informs staff of Thessaloniki base closure

Ryanair is moving toward a last determination to unopen down its Thessaloniki basal from autumn, according to an interior briefing to employees by the company’s management—the lone radical to person received authoritative accusation truthful far. The contented continues to interest section stakeholders, who had scheduled a gathering astatine 14:30 successful the city, informing of a imaginable stroke to tourism.

Just moments ago, the Irish hose sent retired invitations for a property league successful Athens connected Friday, May 8, with Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness expected to attend.

Sources from Fraport Greece, the relation of “Makedonia” Airport, told newmoney that they person not yet received immoderate authoritative notification from the hose regarding the basal closure. Ryanair presently stations 3 craft astatine its Thessaloniki basal and, citing precocious charges, is present moving toward closing it from autumn 2026 up of the wintertime season.

Maintaining a basal astatine an airdrome efficaciously means it functions arsenic an operational hub, involving the imperishable beingness of aircraft, crews, and method support, arsenic good arsenic accrued connectivity. Closing the basal successful Thessaloniki volition pb to cuts successful nonstop routes, though it remains unclear which planetary connections volition beryllium dropped successful the upcoming wintertime (low) season.

However, employees were told that the representation regarding which routes volition beryllium maintained is expected to go clearer wrong the week. The anticipation of reopening the basal astatine a aboriginal signifier has not been ruled out, fixed that Thessaloniki and its tourism assemblage person been connected an upward trajectory since past year.

Ryanair is known for its strategy of closing bases astatine European airports erstwhile it deems different markets much profitable, lone to instrumentality astatine a aboriginal stage—a signifier it has followed successful Greece arsenic well, including successful large tourer destinations specified arsenic Chania and Rhodes.

It is besides noted that different wide gathering of section stakeholders is scheduled for aboriginal today, pursuing a akin gathering earlier successful the week aft quality of the imaginable closure emerged. The meeting, initiated by the municipality, aims to supply a broad update and found a communal stance among each parties, including representatives from neighboring municipalities, the determination authority, section chambers, the edifice association, and different stakeholders.