Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) has announced it will close its Athens base and reduce its network out of the Greek capital during the Winter 2022/23 season citing what it said was "the inexplicable failure" of the Greek government to reduce "non-competitive" airport fees.
"The Athens airport is a characteristic example of how the Greek government and the high-cost German ownership fail to contribute to Greece's people and economy," Chief Executive Eddie Wilson said, listing Croatia, Ireland, and Portugal as examples of countries which reduced fees and charges in the wake of the pandemic to stimulate recovery.
Fraport Greece - a joint-venture in which Germany's Fraport AG controls a 73.4% stake - is the concessionaire for 14 Greek airports but does not operate nor hold a stake in Athens airport.
The Irish LCC currently bases two B737-800s out of Athens. As such, their relocation will lead to the reduction of the carrier's network from the Greek capital from the planned 29 routes to just 10. The ch-aviation schedules module shows that as of the first week of September, Ryanair operates 70 weekly departures to 20 destinations out of Athens.
The ch-aviation capacities module highlights that Ryanair is the third-largest carrier by scheduled weekly capacity with a 6.3% market share, behind Aegean Airlines and SKY Express (Greece). The LCC's market share on international routes is 7.5%, second only to Aegean Airlines. However, the market share is driven by Ryanair's seasonal network to Greek islands. At Athens airport alone, the LCC has a 3.7% market share.
Ryanair also has bases at Chania and Thessaloniki airports, both of them operated by Fraport Greece.
