Finnish airline Finnair has announced the cancellation of 140 flights due to a large-scale strike by its ground handling staff. The protest action, which began on Friday, caused significant disruptions at Finland’s largest airport, Helsinki-Vantaa, affecting both domestic and international flights, Yle reports.
The airline said in a statement that the strike, organised by several trade unions, will last at least until the evening and will affect thousands of passengers. Finnair warns of possible delays to other flights throughout the day.
The reason for the strike was the employees’ dissatisfaction with the new working conditions and wage issues. Trade union representatives stress that negotiations with the employer have reached a deadlock, and the protest is a necessary step.
Finnair is currently offering passengers a free change of travel dates or refunds for tickets. The company asks passengers to check the status of their flights on the official website before going to the airport.
This is not the first strike in the Finnish aviation sector over the past year, indicating that labour conflicts in the industry are escalating.
