National flag carrier Finnair will cancel about 100 flights on Monday due to a four-hour strike enforced by the trade unions, said Finnair in a press release on Saturday.
The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) decided to observe the strike as the unions unanimously rejected the negotiation proposal made by the mediator regarding renewal of the collective agreement for aviation services.
According to the IAU, the industrial action will be four-hour-long and will take place in different shifts at Helsinki Airport.
The strike will affect many functions that are essential for Finnair's flights during the day, such as ground handling operations and cargo services, said Finnair.
Flight cancellations will affect about 7,500 Finnair passengers.
The airline will offer passengers an alternative flight.
"We are very sorry about the ongoing changes to our customers' travel plans due to these industrial actions, including the most recent one this Friday. Our team is working diligently to offer alternative solutions to affected customers," said Jaakko Schildt, Finnair's Chief Operating Officer.
Passengers whose flight was cancelled due to strike will be informed about the cancellation as soon as it has been done.
After this, the passengers will receive a message and be offered a new route.
Due to the high number of cancellations, rerouting all customers may take time, and customers might have to wait for a while for their new route.
The offered routing can be changed within the limits of flight availability. Alternatively, passengers can cancel their reservation and apply for a refund for the unused ticket.
The strike might cause disruptions, for example, in the baggage handling at Helsinki Airport on Monday, so customers travelling on Monday 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 strike on May 16.
Earlier, Finnair cancelled about 140 flights on May 2 due to strike.
Finnair also cancelled about 70 flights on March 27 due to strike called by the IAU and the Finnish Transport Workers' Union (AKT).
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
