Ryanair is cutting flights to some of its Greek Island destinations a month early, in protest against Greek officials not honoring a joint marketing campaign. The no-frills airline will axe 13 routes to Rhodes, and 11 routes to Kos a month before the usual end of the summer season, costing Greek tourism a projected €18 millon in lost revenue, after the Association of Development and Progress Of The Dodecanese (DETAP) and the Mayor of Kos reneged on an agreement with Ryanair to promote flights to their regaion internationally.
Stephen McNamara from Ryanair said: “Ryanair originally intended to operate 11 Kos routes and 13 Rhodes routes to the end of the summer and these would have delivered over 23,000 passengers during October, providing increased tourism spending and sustaining local jobs.
However, DETAP and the Mayor of Kos have reneged on an agreement with Ryanair to jointly promote our flights and we have now been forced to cancel flights from October 2.
DETAP and the Mayor of Kos should now explain to Rhodes and Kos residents, why they have now refused to partner with the only airline interested in bringing new passengers, new jobs and millions in tourism revenues to the region.”
Reports from Greece have stated that the local government had not signed any contract with any low-cost airline. Ryanair has previously dismissed rumours of early route cancellations as “speculation”.
Ryanair passengers are reminded that the Ryanair.com website will be closed for business from 10.00pm (GMT) Friday 18th May, until midnight Saturday 19th May. All passengers travelling with the airline should have already been remined by the airline, to check-in before 1600hrs Friday 18th May.
