Latest news with #FinnishAviationUnion
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
110 flights cancelled at airline that serves Edinburgh
The IAU has announced a series of industrial actions that will significantly disrupt ground operations at one airport on June 2 and June 4 The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has declared a series of strikes starting today at an airline that serves Edinburgh and other UK airports. It will significantly disrupt ground operations at Helsinki Airport on June 2 and June 4. The strikes are due to an ongoing wage dispute between the IAU and the employers' association Palta. As a consequence of the planned four-hour work stoppage today, Finnair has had to cancel roughly 110 flights, affecting around 8,000 passengers. The airline is contacting all impacted customers directly via email or SMS to offer alternative arrangements. The IAU confirmed the strike would go ahead following the failure to reach a resolution in collective bargaining negotiations. The union has also issued further strike warnings for June 11, highlighting the potential for continued disruption. Talks have been at a standstill since late January, with hundreds of flights cancelled in recent months. The main issue revolves around salary increases, with the IAU rejecting a recent proposal by the national mediator. According to the union, aviation sector wage growth has lagged behind other industries. They have cited missed raises in 2021 and 2022 as a key concern, reports Bristol Live. In addition to London Heathrow, Finnair also operates flights to and from Manchester and Edinburgh. Passenger rights during the industrial action Despite the industrial action, air passengers' rights remain protected under European regulation EC 261/2004. "Airlines are required to rebook affected passengers to their final destinations at the earliest opportunity and provide Duty of Care-such as meals and hotel accommodations-in cases of significant delays," said Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist SkyRefund. Full refunds could be available Passengers whose flights are cancelled or significantly delayed may opt for a full refund. Compensation eligibility depends on the nature of the strike. If the strike involves Finnair's own employees, eligible passengers may receive compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance. If the disruption results from strikes by third-party staff, such as ground handlers not directly employed by the airline, the event is classified as an "extraordinary circumstance," and compensation is not owed. Nevertheless, passengers are advised to retain receipts for any related expenses. Finnair encourages customers traveling on affected dates to monitor their email and SMS messages for updates and to visit the airline's website for the latest travel information.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Thousands of passengers face disruption as 110 flights cancelled
Thousands of passengers face disruption as 110 flights cancelled Two more days of diruption have already been announced Expect delays at the airport The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has announced a series of industrial actions starting today that will significantly disrupt ground operations at Helsinki Airport on June 2 and June 4. The strikes are the result of an ongoing dispute over wages between the IAU and the employers' association Palta. As a result of the planned four-hour work stoppage today, Finnair has been forced to cancel approximately 110 flights, impacting around 8,000 passengers. The airline is contacting all affected customers directly via email or SMS to provide alternative arrangements. The IAU confirmed the strike would proceed following the failure to reach a resolution in collective bargaining negotiations. The union has also issued further strike warnings for 11 June, underscoring the potential for continued disruption. Negotiations have been stalled since late January, with hundreds of flights cancelled in recent months. The core issue centers on salary increases, with the IAU rejecting a recent proposal by the national mediator. According to the union, aviation sector wage growth has fallen behind other industries, citing missed raises in 2021 and 2022 as a key concern. In addition to London Heathrow, Finnair also flies to and from Manchester and Edinburgh. Passenger Rights During the Industrial Action: Despite the industrial action, air passengers' rights remain protected under European regulation EC 261/2004. "Airlines are required to rebook affected passengers to their final destinations at the earliest opportunity and provide Duty of Care—such as meals and hotel accommodations—in cases of significant delays," said Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist SkyRefund. Article continues below Passengers whose flights are cancelled or significantly delayed may opt for a full refund. Compensation eligibility depends on the nature of the strike: If the strike involves Finnair's own employees, eligible passengers may receive compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance. If the disruption results from strikes by third-party staff, such as ground handlers not directly employed by the airline, the event is classified as an "extraordinary circumstance," and compensation is not owed. Nevertheless, passengers are advised to retain receipts for any related expenses. Finnair encourages customers traveling on affected dates to monitor their email and SMS messages for updates and to visit the airline's website for the latest travel information.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits warned of ‘significant' holiday hotspot disruption as airport staff strike
The Finnish Aviation Union has announced three strikes among workers at Helsinki Airport over the coming weeks, with Finnair the airline most impacted by the industrial action Finnair has grounded 110 flights, impacting 8,000 customers, on a single day of a three-day strike. Brits flying to Finland are facing travel chaos yet again, as the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has announced three fresh strikes on May 30, June 2, and June 4 at Helsinki Airport. This is Finland's seventh aviation strike in under a month. The industrial action is predicted to impact just shy of 30 UK flights across the three days. As the summer getaway kicks off, this latest wave of strikes will have ripple effects across Europe. The IAU, representing ground handling, baggage, catering, maintenance, and customer service staff, will strike over wage disputes with PALTA in 4-hour staggered shifts, leading to full-day disruptions. Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@ According to the IAU, the average earnings of Finnair Group employees rose by 6.4 percent between 2020 and 2023. During that same period the national average increase across all sectors was 10.4 percent. The strikes are designed to maximise disruption, with union officials organising the walkouts at strategic times across a six-day window. The result is a wave of residual disruption: cancelled flights one day, incomplete baggage delivery the next, and last-minute rerouting throughout. Palta, which represents employers, has argued that most employee groups were ready to accept the mediator's proposed increases, Helsinki Times reports. It has said that the IAU is demanding adjustments beyond what others have asked for. The cancelled direct flights from the UK will see nearly 5,400 passengers affected. Since Helsinki is a direct transit hub for Brits flying to Asia, the Baltics and Northern Finland. According to Air Advisor, 11,400 UK passengers will be affected. Key UK routes likely to be impacted include London Heathrow to Helsinki, Manchester to Helsinki, and Edinburgh to Helsinki. The IAU strikes are not the only ones impacting European aviation customers this week. The May 30 to June 4 strikes align with Italy's May 28 aircrew/taxi strikes, creating a rare 'Nordic-Mediterranean Disruption Corridor', disrupting Helsinki, Milan, and Rome hubs. This will strain Frankfurt and Amsterdam connections, adding excessive pressure on these hubs. Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder of AirAdvisor, said: This is no longer a strike story, it's a system failure story. Helsinki has now had more strikes in 30 days than most countries have in a year. This represents something far more serious than a few cancelled flights: they signal a system on the brink. Helsinki Airport, once considered one of the smoothest hubs in Europe, is now suffering from chronic unpredictability. For UK passengers, this isn't just about Finland, it's about how a local dispute can derail an entire travel experience across Europe. "The most worrying aspect is the deliberate spread of these strikes. By placing them days apart, IAU is stretching airline operations beyond recovery: think of aircraft out of position, bags not making it to destinations, and crew timing out. It matters because this kind of disruption doesn't stay in Finland; it ripples across hubs like London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, making it even more chaotic." Affected passengers should check the airline's website and mobile app for alternative flight options and manage their bookings accordingly. Finnair has told impacted customers that they will be supported with rebooking options to minimize inconvenience.
Travel Daily News
19-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Finnair cancels 110 flights due to industrial action at Helsinki Airport
Finnair cancels 110 flights on 19 May due to Helsinki Airport industrial action, disrupting travel for 14,000 passengers and impacting ground services. The Finnish Aviation Union IAU has announced industrial action at Finnair's home hub Helsinki Airport, causing extensive disruptions to Finnair traffic today, Monday, 19 May. According to the IAU, the industrial actions are similar to those carried out earlier in May. The four-hour industrial actions impact several work shifts and thus affect throughout the day many functions essential to Finnair's flights, such as ground handling operations and catering services. As industrial action will cause significant disruptions to the operation of flights, Finnair will have to cancel approximately 110 flights on Monday. Flight cancellations are expected to affect approximately 14,000 Finnair customers. Finnair will offer customers of cancelled flights an alternative flight, which the customer can see in the Manage booking service on Finnair's website or the Finnair mobile application. Customers whose flight was cancelled due to industrial action will be informed about the cancellation as soon as it has been done. After this, the customer will receive a message and be offered a new route, which will also be visible in Finnair's Manage booking service and mobile application. Customers are asked to make sure that their contact information is up to date on their reservation. The offered routing can be changed within the limits of flight availability in Manage booking or through customer service. Alternatively, customers can cancel their reservation and apply for a refund for the unused ticket. The industrial action might cause disruptions, for example, in the baggage handling at Helsinki Airport on Monday, so customers travelling on Monday are encouraged to check-in in advance, arrive at the airport on time, and pack essential items, such as medicines, in carry-on baggage.
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Wales Online
Thousands of passengers face disruption with flights to be cancelled
Thousands of passengers face disruption with flights to be cancelled There will be delays on Friday and Monday A queue of passengers waiting at the boarding gate Finnair has warned that industrial action by the Finnish Aviation Union on Friday this week, May 16, will result in it cancelling around 60 flights on that day, affecting around 6,000 customers The airline has promised to offer alternative travel options for passengers whose flights might be cancelled. Finnair has also warned that further strikes planned for Monday May 19 could affect more flights, though it says it is still assessing the potential impact of any strikes on that day. On Monday May 19, the destinations with the most significant number of Finnair departures from Helsinki include London Heathrow Airport with six planned departures on that day. In addition to London Heathrow, Finnair also flies to and from Manchester and Edinburgh. When there were two similar strikes on May 2 and 5, Finnair ended up cancelling between a third and a half of flights scheduled for those days. Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialists SkyRefund, said: "The EC 261/2004 regulation on air passenger rights remains applicable during strikes. Airlines must rebook affected passengers to their final destination at the earliest opportunity and offer Duty of Care, such as accommodation and meals, in the event of long delays. "If a flight is cancelled or heavily delayed, passengers may choose to request a refund instead. However, compensation for delays is not owed if the strike involves workers who are not directly employed by the airline. Article continues below "If the strike directly involves Finnair employees, if you present yourself on time for check-in with a valid flight reservation and travel documents, and you are denied boarding you might be entitled to € 250 if the distance you are travelling is 1,500 km or less; € 400 for flights of more than 1,500 km within the European Common Aviation Area and all others between 1,500 and 3,500 km, with all other flights of more than 3,500 km eligible for € 600 compensation. "But the airline you are travelling on is affected but its staff are not striking, and you are still affected, you will not be eligible for financial compensation as the delay or cancellation has been caused by "extraordinary circumstances". But we still advise you to keep receipts for any expenses you incur during the delay."
