Three Finnish trade unions have come together with the Finnish Transport Workers’ Union (AKT) to announce a joint plan for a two-hour political strike at Helsinki Airport (HEL). As reported by Pilotcenter.net News, the strike, confirmed by Finnair, is scheduled for March 27, 2025, between 14:00 and 16:00 local time. Interestingly, this industrial action will coincide with Finnair’s annual general meeting for 2025, which is set for 15:00 local time on the same day.

This strike is in response to the government’s ownership policies, specifically the proposed increase in compensation for board members of the state-owned airline. The demonstration, organized by three branches of the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) – SLT, ATA, and the Finnish Civil Aviation Officials Union – in collaboration with AKT, is set to impact essential air traffic operations, such as airport customer service, baggage handling, and ground services, potentially causing disruptions in flight operations.

Finnair has announced that around 70 flights will be canceled, affecting approximately 6,500 passengers. Flight delays are also a possibility. In light of these developments, Jaakko Schildt, the Chief Operating Officer at Finnair, expressed concern for customers, stating, “The effects of this industrial action on our customers are unreasonable – customers will have to change their travel plans when flights must be cancelled. We will do our very best to offer a suitable new routing to everyone.”

Despite the disruptions, Finnair has assured that it will make arrangements for alternative flights for affected passengers as quickly as possible and keep them informed about their new travel plans. Passengers facing cancellations also have the option to request refunds for any unused tickets. The strike could potentially lead to service interruptions and baggage handling issues at Helsinki Airport, prompting the airline to advise travelers to check in early, arrive punctually, and pack essential items like medications in their carry-on luggage.

Schildt reiterated Finnair’s dedication to minimizing inconvenience, stating, “We are very sorry for the concern and the changes to our customers’ travel plans caused by this situation. We ask for patience from customers, and we will do our best to ensure that customers can carry out their travel plans despite this unfortunate situation.”