11,000 passengers face disruption with industrial action on wednesday

110 FLIGHTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CANCELLED NEIL SHAW Assistant Editor 08:55, 03 Jun 2025 Finnair, which flies into and out of London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh, has announced it will

cancel approximately 110 flights tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4, due to industrial action by the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) at Helsinki Airport. The airline expects the disruption to affect

around 11,000 customers and has begun rebooking passengers on alternative flights where possible. The IAU’s industrial action, set to take place in staggered four-hour blocks targeting

different work shifts, is expected to cause widespread operational disruptions throughout the day. The strikes will affect essential services such as ground handling and catering, both of

which are critical to Finnair’s flight operations. According to Finnair, affected passengers will be contacted directly once their flight is cancelled and offered alternative routings. These

will also appear in the “Manage booking” tool and Finnair’s mobile app. Customers will have the option to accept the proposed new flight, rebook within available options, or cancel their

reservation and apply for a refund for any unused portion of the ticket. Finnair had already allowed customers scheduled to travel on 4 June to proactively reschedule their flights.

Thousands have reportedly taken advantage of this option to avoid travel disruptions. Further strike warnings have already been issued for next Wednesday, 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 centres 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. Article continues below 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. 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. Article continues

below Finnair encourages customers travelling on affected dates to monitor their email and SMS messages for updates and to visit the airline's website for the latest travel information.