HELSINKI- The Finnish Air Line Pilots Association has announced strikes on December 9 and 13, 2024, significantly affecting Finnair (AY) operations.
The airline expects to cancel approximately 300 flights over the two strike days, with additional disruptions to certain flights before and after the strike. These cancellations will impact an estimated 33,000 customers.
Finnair Pilot Strike
Finnair’s Chief Operating Officer, Jaakko Schildt, expressed disappointment over the decision to strike instead of pursuing negotiations. Schildt stated, “This unfortunately disrupts the travel plans of thousands of our customers during the pre-Christmas season. We are doing everything we can to serve our customers well in this difficult situation and will offer alternative flights to as many customers as possible.”
The airline plans to cancel around 140 flights on December 9 and another 150 on December 13. Customers affected by cancellations will be notified as soon as possible and, where feasible, provided new travel arrangements through Finnair’s Manage Booking service and mobile app.
Due to the high volume of affected passengers, Finnair acknowledges that not all reroutings will closely match original travel plans. In such cases, customers are advised to contact Finnair customer service for alternative options.
If a suitable flight cannot be arranged, passengers may apply for a ticket refund directly through Finnair or via their travel agent, depending on where the ticket was purchased.
Schildt apologized for the disruptions, stating, “We are extremely sorry for the worry and inconvenience this situation causes our customers. Finding suitable new flights for thousands of passengers takes time, and our customer service will be heavily congested during the weekend. We ask for our customers’ patience as we work to support their travel plans despite this unfortunate situation.”
Passengers are urged to monitor updates through Finnair’s official communication channels and remain prepared for potential delays in customer service response times due to the high demand.
Similar Attempts
Frontier Airlines faces potential service disruptions as its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), overwhelmingly authorized strike action after stalled contract negotiations. According to ALPA, 99% of voting members supported the strike authorization, with 97% of eligible pilots participating in the vote.
“This vote reflects our pilots’ unified stance,” said Capt. Michael Maynard, chairman of Frontier ALPA’s Master Executive Council. “Our pilots are prepared to take action to secure a fair contract that meets their needs.”
The dispute arises after the expiration of the pilots’ contract in January. While pilots continue to work under the terms of the expired agreement, efforts to negotiate a new contract have not reached a resolution.
Federal regulations outline mandatory steps before a strike can occur. The Federal Mediation Board must first determine that negotiations are at an impasse. If that determination is made, both parties will have an opportunity to pursue arbitration. Should arbitration fail to produce an agreement, the union can legally strike after a 30-day cooling-off period.
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