Finnair is facing a possible strike next week (now withdrawn)

Finnair (Helsinki) is facing a possible strike by the Finnish Aviation Union for next week that will possibly affect Finnair and other airlines operating to Finland. The airline has issued this statement:

The Finnish Aviation Union has issued a strike warning for May 19-20, 2015, and the possible strike would impact also Finnair and its subcontractors. The strike is in connection to a dispute related to a collective labor agreement applied to a Finnish ground handling company. Finnair is not a party to the dispute in any way. The strike would also impact other airlines operating to and from Finland.

Even though the dispute is not related to Finnair, the strike would, if implemented, have significant impacts on Finnair flights, as it would bring Finnair’s baggage and ground handling services to a complete halt for several hours during peak travel hours on May 19-20. The strike would thus disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Finnair customers. Finnair has already offered customers the possibility to change their travel dates to avoid traveling on the possible strike days.

If the strike threat is not withdrawn, Finnair is forced to cancel many of its flights on May 19-20, to avoid a situation where thousands of customers would be stranded at Helsinki Airport when their connecting flights cannot be operated. Some cancellations will also have to be made on May 18 and May 21.

First cancellations will be made for certain flights for Monday, May 18, and Finnair will inform customers of these cancellations on Sunday, May 17.

Update May 16: From Finnair:

Finnish Aviation Union has withdrawn the threat of a support strike, which would have had significant impacts on Finnair and its subcontractors among others, and the parties to the dispute have reached an agreement.

Copyright Photo below: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 190-100LR OH-LKI (msn 19000117) taxies to the gate at the Helsinki hub.

Finnair aircraft slide show: