Finnair flight cancellations on Monday left around 7,200 passengers stranded after the airline cancelled approximately 100 scheduled flights. The airline had planned to operate about 330 flights that day. These cancellations are linked to an ongoing strike action by the Aviation Union (IAU).
This is not the first wave of travel trouble for Finnair this year. Since spring, the airline has scrapped over 1,000 flights, citing labor unrest as the primary cause. As the summer peak begins, tensions between staff and management are only intensifying.
The IAU has laid out additional strike days, with walkouts planned on July 16, 18, 21 and 23. These planned strikes are part of a broader dispute with the service industry employers’ group Palta. At the center of the conflict are concerns about working conditions, pay structure, and job security.
Mediation efforts led by Finland’s National Conciliator are ongoing, but so far, no deal has been reached. Travelers are being advised to check their flight status in advance and prepare for possible disruptions throughout the month.
Finnair has not yet confirmed how many more flights may be affected in the coming weeks, but the company has acknowledged that the situation remains fluid. Some passengers have already reported issues with rebooking and customer service response times.
Airports in Helsinki, Oulu and Turku saw long queues and confusion as news of the cancellations spread. Some travelers were offered hotel accommodations while others had to wait hours for updates.
This labor dispute reflects a larger shift in how workers across the European aviation sector are pushing back against rising workloads and stagnant wages. Finnair, already struggling with global airline challenges, now faces added pressure from its own workforce.
For now, all eyes are on the next scheduled strike days and whether the mediation talks can lead to a breakthrough.
