More than 60 Flights Cancelled due to Walkout
Image: YLE
Finnair has had to cancel an additional 26 flights on Wednesday due to the walkout by airport personnel. On Tuesday, the airline cancelled 23 flights and 14 on Monday. Most of the cancellations were domestic flights. Five hundred workers have continued the labour action even though the walkout was supposed to end at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Travel tips during strike
- Travellers are encouraged to check-in online or use self-service check-in kiosks at the airport.
- Travellers should arrive at the airport early.
- Finnair says there may be changes to in-flight meals.
- Some arriving passengers have been advised not to wait for their luggage. Baggage will be delivered later.
The airline has urged travellers to avoid bringing luggage to the airport that needs to be checked in. Other airlines as well could be affected by the walkout.
By Tuesday evening, the airport had a bottleneck of around 6,000 bags. It may take several days to make sure the bags follow their owners to their destinations.
Travellers arriving at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport face exceptionally long waits at the baggage terminal. Some tired travellers left the airport without their luggage. These passengers were told to expect their bags by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Union Protests Outsourcing
The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) is protesting the outsourcing of baggage handling operations to a company called Barona Handling. The sale was completed on Monday. The IAU claims that permanent positions at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport would be transformed into short-term contracts with the move.
Finnair insists it is no longer a party to the labour dispute, because as of Monday, the striking employees now work for Barona.
Walkout Continues at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Wednesday
YLE