FedEx plans to transfer its customs clearance operations from Thessaloniki to Athens, raising fresh concerns over the future of northern Greece’s transport and logistics sector.
The global courier company is set to close its office at the customs building of Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” Airport on May 31. Customs clearance procedures will then be relocated to Athens International Airport, also known as “Eleftherios Venizelos.”
The development comes shortly after Ryanair notified staff that it will close its operational base at Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” Airport at the end of the summer aviation season in late October. Together, the two decisions have fueled concerns that Thessaloniki may be losing part of its strategic position as a major transport and logistics hub.
Concern among Thessaloniki customs brokers
FedEx’s planned customs shift was revealed during a meeting at the Professionals’ Chamber of Thessaloniki. The news has alarmed customs professionals and logistics operators in northern Greece.
Giorgos Kosmidis, president of the Customs Brokers Association, warned that the decision could trigger a chain reaction across the local market. FedEx has already informed the six employees working at its Thessaloniki office that their contracts will end. More than 550 customs brokers in the city also fear a potential loss of income, as the company moves customs procedures to Athens.
Fears over costs and delivery delays
Industry representatives warn that moving customs clearance to Athens could increase the cost of imported goods destined for northern Greece.
Shipments and parcels that previously cleared customs in Thessaloniki will now go through Athens before traveling north. As a result, businesses and consumers in Thessaloniki and the wider region could face additional costs and longer delivery times.
Local professionals also warn that centralizing customs operations in the capital will downgrade service levels in northern Greece, especially for companies that depend on fast and reliable international deliveries.
FedEx to keep Thessaloniki hub in Pylaia
Despite closing its customs office at the airport, FedEx plans to maintain its hub in the Pylaia district of Thessaloniki. The facility will continue receiving goods transported from Athens.
The company also plans to keep its daily flight to Thessaloniki. However, parcels arriving in the city will have cleared customs in Athens prior to transport to northern Greece.
Market sources say the decision appears to form part of a broader cost-cutting strategy by FedEx, especially after the company established a new privately-owned warehouse facility in Markopoulo, near Athens.
Ryanair closure adds to pressure
FedEx’s decision follows Ryanair’s plan to close its operational base at Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” Airport at the end of the summer aviation season in late October. The Irish low-cost airline will reallocate the three aircraft currently based in Thessaloniki to other European hubs with lower operating costs and more competitive financial incentives.
Ryanair made the decision after a dispute with Fraport Greece, the airport manager, over a recent increase in airport fees. The airline filed an official objection with the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority in an effort to block the increases, but the authority rejected the appeal.
Around 200 Ryanair jobs at risk
The closure of Ryanair’s Thessaloniki base puts approximately two hundred local jobs at risk, including pilots, flight attendants, and support staff. The airline has clarified that it does not plan to abandon Thessaloniki entirely. However, removing the aircraft stationed at the airport will likely reduce its operational presence in the city.
That could lead to fewer routes and a reduced flight schedule, particularly during the winter months. Industry analysts note that Ryanair has previously closed Greek bases at Chania and Kos airports following disputes over airport fees.
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