Sunday, May 3 – Reports are that Ryanair, the Irish Budget Airline, are pulling out of Thessaloniki airport in Northern Greece in October 2026. The reason cited is the 15% increase in fees that Fraport, the German managers of the airport, are demanding to renew the contract with the airline.

If Ryanair pulls out of Thessaloniki as a base for operations, destinations in Greece and Europe serviced from the airport will reduce from 33 to three: London, Bucharest and Bergamo.

The situation will become clearer after the arrival of Ryanair representatives to meet with Fraport in Thessaloniki next week.

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece after Athens, acting as a major economic and cultural centre in Northern Greece. As a modern metropolis of over 1 million people in its wider area, it serves as a “co-capital” and a significant, historically rich city.