Latest news with #JaakkoSchildt
Travel Daily News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Finnair to cancel approximately 60 flights on 16 May
Finnair cancels 60 flights on May 16 due to Helsinki Airport industrial action, affecting 6,000 passengers and causing major operational disruptions. The Finnish Aviation Union IAU has announced industrial action at Finnair's home hub Helsinki Airport, causing extensive disruptions to Finnair traffic on Friday, 16 May. According to the IAU, the industrial actions are similar to those carried out earlier in May. The four-hour industrial actions target different work shifts and thus affect many functions essential to Finnair's flights throughout the day, 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 60 flights on Friday. Flight cancellations are expected to affect approximately 6,000 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 on the Finnair mobile application. 'We are very sorry for the changes to our customers' travel plans caused by this situation. We are doing our best to offer our customers new routing as quickly as possible,' says Jaakko Schildt, Finnair's Chief Operating Officer. 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 Friday, so customers travelling on Friday are encouraged to check-in in advance, arrive at the airport on time and pack essential items, such as medicines, in carry-on baggage. The IAU has also announced similar industrial action on Monday, 19 May. Finnair is still assessing the exact effects of the industrial action on that day's traffic, but it is likely that if it takes place, it will cause disruptions on that day as well.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- The Sun
Thousands of travellers to be hit by European airline strikes this weekend
FINNAIR has warned that industrial action is likely to lead to cancelled flights this weekend. Due to strike action by the Finnish Aviation Union, on May 16 Finnair will cancel around 60 flights, impacting 6,000 customers. 2 Further strike action is also due to take place on May 19, which could impact more flights - though the airline is still assessing the potential impact for that day. On 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. The airline has promised to offer alternative travel options for passengers whose flights might be canceled. Jaakko Schildt, COO of Finnair, said: "We are very sorry for the changes to our customers' travel plans caused by this situation. "We are doing our best to offer our customers new routing as quickly as possible." Similar industrial action occurred on May 2 and May 5, with the airline having to cancel between a third and a half of scheduled flights for those days. In terms of the rights of passengers affected by the industrial action, 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." Darina added that if a flight is cancelled or heavily delayed, passengers may choose to request a refund instead. The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her top tips when flying "However, compensation for delays is not owed if the strike involves workers who are not directly employed by the airline. "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 (£210.96) if the distance you are travelling is 1,500 km or less." For flights over 1,500km within the European Common Aviation Area and all other areas between 1,500km and 3,500km, passengers are entitled to €400 (£337.54) and all other flights of more than 3,500km eligible for €600 (£506.31) 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'," added Darina. "But we still advise you to keep receipts for any expenses you incur during the delay." Meanwhile, AI is being used by British Airways planes to avoid bad weather and flight delays. Plus, the four times you will not get any compensation for a cancelled flight this summer. 2
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Strike action cancels 140 Finnair flights over Bank Holiday weekend
Finnair has announced another mass cancellation of flights due to strikes, this time coinciding with the May Day bank holiday weekend, following a string of similar cancellations in the past six months. The Finland flag carrier airline announced on Wednesday 30 April that will cancel approximately 140 flights due to industrial action in the country on Friday 2 May. The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) said it would be carrying out industrial action, which Finnair says will to cause 'extensive disruptions to air traffic.' The strike action will be four hours long and will take place in different shifts, so Finnair has warned that this action will not be tied to a specific time but will affect many functions essential for flights. The airline said the action will disrupt aircraft maintenance, ground handling operations and catering services. As a result, Finnair says its Friday cancellations will affect around 12,000 Finnair customers, but added it will offer them an alternative flight, which will appear in the 'Manage booking service' section on their website or app. The airline said customers whose flight is cancelled due to the industrial action will be notified. It warned that due to the high number of cancellations, rerouting all customers may take time, and some could be forced to wait a while for their new route. The alternative routes can also be changed within the limits of flight availability if the customer so chooses, or they can cancel their reservation and apply for a refund if the ticket is unused. It is also expected that baggage handling will be affected by the industrial action at Helsinki Airport on Friday, so Finnair is advising customers to check-in in advance, arrive on time at the airport and carry essentials such as medicines in hand luggage. Jaakko Schildt, chief operating officer at Finnair, said: "It is unreasonable that 12,000 of our customers have to change their travel plans during the May Day weekend due to industrial action. 'We hoped until the end that industrial action could have been avoided. We are sorry for the situation and will do everything we can to ensure that every customer receives a suitable new routing as soon as possible." Finnair says the IAU has also announced similar industrial action on Monday 5 May but the airline is still assessing how large the disruption will be. Finnair recently cancelled 70 flights in late March due to union strikes that lasted two hours. Before that, the airline said it would cancel almost 300 flights two weeks before Christmas as pilots went on strike, affecting approximately 33,000 customers. The Independent has contacted the IAU for comment.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Strike action cancels 140 Finnair flights over Bank Holiday weekend
Finnair has announced another mass cancellation of flights due to strikes, this time coinciding with the May Day bank holiday weekend, following a string of similar cancellations in the past six months. The Finland flag carrier airline announced on Wednesday 30 April that will cancel approximately 140 flights due to industrial action in the country on Friday 2 May. The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) said it would be carrying out industrial action, which Finnair says will to cause 'extensive disruptions to air traffic.' The strike action will be four hours long and will take place in different shifts, so Finnair has warned that this action will not be tied to a specific time but will affect many functions essential for flights. The airline said the action will disrupt aircraft maintenance, ground handling operations and catering services. As a result, Finnair says its Friday cancellations will affect around 12,000 Finnair customers, but added it will offer them an alternative flight, which will appear in the 'Manage booking service' section on their website or app. The airline said customers whose flight is cancelled due to the industrial action will be notified. It warned that due to the high number of cancellations, rerouting all customers may take time, and some could be forced to wait a while for their new route. The alternative routes can also be changed within the limits of flight availability if the customer so chooses, or they can cancel their reservation and apply for a refund if the ticket is unused. It is also expected that baggage handling will be affected by the industrial action at Helsinki Airport on Friday, so Finnair is advising customers to check-in in advance, arrive on time at the airport and carry essentials such as medicines in hand luggage. Jaakko Schildt, chief operating officer at Finnair, said: "It is unreasonable that 12,000 of our customers have to change their travel plans during the May Day weekend due to industrial action. 'We hoped until the end that industrial action could have been avoided. We are sorry for the situation and will do everything we can to ensure that every customer receives a suitable new routing as soon as possible." Finnair says the IAU has also announced similar industrial action on Monday 5 May but the airline is still assessing how large the disruption will be. Finnair recently cancelled 70 flights in late March due to union strikes that lasted two hours. Before that, the airline said it would cancel almost 300 flights two weeks before Christmas as pilots went on strike, affecting approximately 33,000 customers.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Finnair to cancel 140 flights amid May Day weekend due to strike action
Finnair has announced another mass cancellation of flights due to strikes, this time coinciding with the May Day bank holiday weekend, following a string of similar cancellations in the past six months. The Finland flag carrier airline announced on Wednesday 30 April that will cancel approximately 140 flights due to industrial action in the country on Friday 2 May. The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) said it would be carrying out industrial action, which Finnair says will to cause 'extensive disruptions to air traffic.' The strike action will be four hours long and will take place in different shifts, so Finnair has warned that this action will not be tied to a specific time but will affect many functions essential for flights. The airline said the action will disrupt aircraft maintenance, ground handling operations and catering services. As a result, Finnair says its Friday cancellations will affect around 12,000 Finnair customers, but added it will offer them an alternative flight, which will appear in the 'Manage booking service' section on their website or app. The airline said customers whose flight is cancelled due to the industrial action will be notified. It warned that due to the high number of cancellations, rerouting all customers may take time, and some could be forced to wait a while for their new route. The alternative routes can also be changed within the limits of flight availability if the customer so chooses, or they can cancel their reservation and apply for a refund if the ticket is unused. It is also expected that baggage handling will be affected by the industrial action at Helsinki Airport on Friday, so Finnair is advising customers to check-in in advance, arrive on time at the airport and carry essentials such as medicines in hand luggage. Jaakko Schildt, chief operating officer at Finnair, said: "It is unreasonable that 12,000 of our customers have to change their travel plans during the May Day weekend due to industrial action. 'We hoped until the end that industrial action could have been avoided. We are sorry for the situation and will do everything we can to ensure that every customer receives a suitable new routing as soon as possible." Finnair says the IAU has also announced similar industrial action on Monday 5 May but the airline is still assessing how large the disruption will be. Finnair recently cancelled 70 flights in late March due to union strikes that lasted two hours. Before that, the airline said it would cancel almost 300 flights two weeks before Christmas as pilots went on strike, affecting approximately 33,000 customers.
