HomeTravel NewsRyanair to Close Athens Base for Winter

Ryanair to Close Athens Base for Winter

Ryanair has announced it will close its base in Athens for the winter. The airline blamed the airport’s ‘dysfunctional’ charging regime in a statement.

“Athens Airport is a prime example of how the Greek government and German high-cost ownership fail to deliver. Athens International Airport is managed by German operator AviAlliance which owns 40% of the airport, with the Greek government holding a 55% stake and the remaining 5% in private hands.” Ryanair said in a press statement.

It is believed that it will close on the 29th of October, the day before the airline shifts to winter schedules. However, it’ll still serve Athens in the off-season using non-based aircraft.

Eddie Wilson, Ryanair chief executive, said: “Regrettably, the decision to sell most Greek airports to high-cost German operators has had a devastating impact on job creation as these operators have no interest in lowering prices to stimulate traffic.”

Eddie Wilson, CEO Ryanair

He said the Greek government had “inexplicably” failed to respond to Ryanair’s plans for growth to Athens by lowering airport charges as it had requested, and as it claimed Croatia, Ireland, Portugal “and other” governments have done.

Ryanair also accused the Greek government of applying a “penal” airport development tax of €12 euros per passenger.

Ryanair opened a base in Athens in April 2014.

Emer Roche
Emer Roche
Emer has over 10 years experience working for Irish magazines, supplements, websites and creative agencies. She’s written features for U Magazine, Image Magazine and theheyday.ie, across a range of subjects such as women’s interest, travel, culture, news and interviews. She also has a portfolio of commercial writing for creative agencies, such as RTE.ie and Originate Creative. Emer is a Dublin native with part of her heart in Ardmore, County Waterford. She lives in Dublin 7 with her husband, two kids, dog and cat.

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