Ryanair offers Greek flights for €5

Part of the airline’s “Keep Greece Flying” campaign, people travelling within Greece can enjoy the cheap fares for the next fortnight on Ryanair’s Athens’ routes to and from Chania, Rhodes and Thessaloniki, while all international routes will see a “Greek seat sale” cutting flights by a third until the end of October.

The budget airline offered to drop Greek domestic fares to just €0 on the condition that HCCA and Athens Airport also reduced their development and airport fees to zero for the same period, but this was declined by the Greek government.

Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, David O’Brien said that it was “disappointing” that the Greek government had declined its offer of a fortnight of free travel, but that “Greek consumers and visitors can rest assured that Ryanair remains committed to growing in Greece and we will continue to stimulate travel and tourism in Greece by working with our partners in the Greek airports and Greek Government at this time of economic crisis.”

The frugal fares come just as the airline announced it would begiving away a million flights for just €19.85 to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Ryanair aren’t the only budget airline to lend Greece a helping hand amid the current financial crisis.  Athens-born EasyJet owner, Stelios Haji-loannou, is also playing his part by handing out free lunches to people in need in the Greek capital.