EUROPE’S NO.1 AIRLINE CALLS ON HCAA & GREEK GOVT. TO ENSURE €9 AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT FEE SAVING IS PASSED ONTO PASSENGERS

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (26 July) confirms it has lodged a formal appeal with the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) against Athens Airport’s attempt to circumvent the Greek State’s wise decision to reduce aviation taxes by 75% (from €12 to €3 per passenger) from November 2024. This decision to reduce access costs would directly contribute to the expansion of off-peak connectivity and the growth of year-round tourism in Greece.

Concerningly for Greece and its citizens however, both German monopolies, Athens Airport and Fraport Greece, have no plans to pass on these lower access costs to passengers travelling to / from Greece. Instead, they plan to hike airport charges to cancel out the progressive decision by the Greek State and keep the taxes for themselves, at the expense of Greek citizens / visitors. Ryanair has extended the tourism season in, and brought much-needed off-peak capacity to Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, and Spain – supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth in cities and regions alike. But this off-peak capacity has bypassed Greece due to excessive airport costs. Athens Airport and Fraport Greece’s shameless attempt to pocket the tax savings of Greek citizens will only ensure tourism and connectivity to / from Greece remains extremely seasonal and expensive.  

Ryanair calls on the Greek government and the HCAA to protect passengers, by ensuring Athens Airport and Fraport Greece respect the decision made by the Greek State to reduce the Airport Development Fee tax from November 2024. This is a brazen attempt to ignore the intended economic benefits the government were trying to deliver for Greek citizens by increasing the competitiveness of Greece through a reduction in access costs.  

Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness said: 

“Athens Airport and Fraport Greece’s shameless attempt to pocket the aviation tax cut by the Greek State from November 2024, is outrageous, and runs counter to government policy to support growth and tourism. The Greek State took the sensible decision to reduce access costs across all Greek airports from November 2024, positioning Greece to move away from chronic seasonality and position itself for year-round connectivity. Governments across Europe (e.g., Hungary, Sweden, and Italy) are scrapping or reducing their aviation taxes as they realise they need to reduce costs given the constraints within European short-haul capacity.

It is unjust for the German monopolies, Athens Airport and Fraport Greece, to be allowed to divert the benefit of Greek tax cuts away from Greek passengers. back to their German head offices. Ryanair calls on the Greek Government and the Greek Regulator (HCAA) to protect passengers and local economies by ensuring Athens Airport and Fraport Greece respect the decision of the Greek Government to reduce access costs and pass through the full tax cut to Greek citizens / visitors from November 2024.”