Fraport offers cheaper fees to woo more flights to Greece

Fraport Greece, a Fraport-led consortium, will slash airport fees by 50 percent during this year’s low season to attract new international flights to 14 Greek airports, it said on Wednesday.

Fraport Greece, a consortium of Germany’s Fraport and Greek group Copelouzos, has operated 14 airports, including those at popular tourist destinations such as Santorini and Rhodes, since April last year.

“We are confident that this incentive will help increase passenger traffic in the winter months as well as extend the tourism season, which is the biggest challenge for both local communities and us,” Fraport said in a statement.

Low-season months are typically November through to March.

The 14 airports handled 27.6 million passengers last year, a 10.3 percent annual increase, and Fraport has said it expects a similar rise this year.

Tens of millions of tourists pour into Greece every year, mainly over the summer months.

Based on the discount, Fraport will charge airliners about 7 euros for each departing passenger from 13.5 euros now.

The scheme will run for two years.

[Reuters]