Finnair was forced to cancel a slew of flights on Monday, and around one-fifth of the airline’s schedule was disrupted after a union that represents ground workers for the Finnish flag carrier at its Helsinki hub called an ‘illegal’ strike with just a few hours notice.
The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU), which represents a wide variety of Finnair workers and contractors, including aircraft maintenance engineers, catering loaders, customer service employees, and baggage handlers, called on its members to down tools after the airline started investigating two employees accused of leaking confidential company airline.
Finnair has accused the two employees of leaking the airline’s “internal and confidential information” without permission.
“Finnair launched an investigation into the course of events as soon as they became known and has offered the employees concerned the opportunity to be heard in accordance with normal process,” a spokesperson for the airline said on Monday.
The airline reassured passengers that the leaked information did not include customer data.
“We consider the illegal walk-out and disruption of thousands of customers’ journeys to be completely out of proportion and irresponsible while the investigation and hearing process is still ongoing,” slammed Finnair’s chief operating officer Jaakko Schildt.
Union members took part in a short strike between 2:00 pm and 4:15 pm on Monday but it was enough to cause widespread disruption to Finnair’s operations.
The airline was forced to cancel at least 20 flights, and nearly 70 flights were delayed as a result of the walkout. Finnair warned that other flights might depart without catering or any bags being loaded.
A representative for Helsinki Airport cautioned that there may be residual effects from the strike on Tuesday, although the spokesperson stressed that the strike was not directed at the airport operating company, Finavia.
Later this month, Finnair could be forced to cancel nearly 300 flights over two days after pilots at the airline announced a separate strike in a dispute over wages and working conditions.
Pilots have announced their intention to strike on December 9 and 13 in a walkout that could leave 33,000 passengers stranded. Finnair criticized the pilot’s union for turning to strike action without first negotiating with the company.
