File photo. [AP]
Ryanair will shut down its base at Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia,” informing staff of the move, local media reported Wednesday.
The decision follows a dispute over increased airport charges imposed by operator Fraport Greece. While fees are set annually and apply uniformly to all airlines, Ryanair has consistently sought to keep operating costs as low as possible, leveraging its scale as Europe’s largest budget carrier.
According to reports, the airline appealed to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority after being notified several months ago of the planned fee increases, but its request was rejected.
Since then, the possibility of withdrawing from Thessaloniki had been under consideration. The base employs around 200 staff, including pilots and cabin crew, and hosts three aircraft.