Finnair has cancelled 110 flights on Friday (30 May), including 12 services to and from the UK, because of a planned strike at Helsinki airport.
Friday’s industrial action is expected to cause extensive disruption, affecting approximately 8,000 customers.
The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) confirmed today (Wednesday 28 May) that the strike would go ahead after talks between the union and Palta (a company representing employers) failed. Workers are in a dispute over pay, with salary increases the main point of contention.
Finnair is contacting customers affected by the disruption and will allow passengers to change flights to non-strike days.
Further industrial action has already been announced at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, with workers set to walkout on 2 and 4 June. Possible industrial action is also planned for 11 June.
Finnair is still ‘assessing the exact effects of the industrial action’ for the June strike days. However, if planned action goes ahead, it is likely to cause disruption, the airline said.
Finnair’s Chief Operating Officer Jaakko Schildt said: “We are deeply sorry that our customers’ important travel plans are once again disrupted. We are doing everything we can to provide our customers with alternative routing as quickly as possible.”
Earlier this month, Finnair grounded 70 flights including four to the UK, due to industrial action at Helsinki airport. The airline has flights from London Heathrow, Edinburgh and Manchester to the Finnish capital.
