Finnish flag-carrier Finnair confirmed on 23 December that it will cancel roughly 300 flights on 9 and 13 December following strike notices from the Finnish Air Line Pilots’ Association (SLL). Although the walk-out targets earlier dates, the airline issued the alert and rebooking instructions within the last 24 hours, catching holiday-season travellers off-guard.
Finnair estimates that 33,000 passengers are affected. Long-haul rotations to Asia and North America are being prioritised, while many regional European services will be grounded. The carrier said most customers have been re-routed, but 330 still lack alternatives as of Wednesday morning.
If your revised itinerary suddenly requires new transit visas or re-entry permits, VisaHQ can step in with expedited processing and expert guidance for Finland and hundreds of other destinations. Its digital platform lets travellers submit applications online and track progress in real time, and live agents can advise on documentation requirements—see https://www.visahq.com/finland/ for details.
![Finnair Pilots’ Union Strike Triggers 300 Flight Cancellations in December]()
The dispute centres on wage scales and rostering flexibility after the collective labour agreement expired on 30 September. Talks mediated by the National Conciliator broke down late on 22 December. For corporate travel managers the timing is grim: Helsinki Airport (HEL) was expecting peak traffic as firms wrap up year-end projects.
Travellers whose trips cannot be re-scheduled may claim refunds or EU 261 compensation, but Finnair warns that processing times could exceed 30 days. Mobility teams should advise assignees to hold on to boarding passes and booking receipts and to consider rail connections to regional Nordic capitals where possible.
Analysts note that repeated aviation strikes—ground handlers in March and political industrial action last February—are eroding Finland’s post-pandemic connectivity. Contingency planning for Q1 2026 travel is therefore prudent.
Finnair estimates that 33,000 passengers are affected. Long-haul rotations to Asia and North America are being prioritised, while many regional European services will be grounded. The carrier said most customers have been re-routed, but 330 still lack alternatives as of Wednesday morning.
If your revised itinerary suddenly requires new transit visas or re-entry permits, VisaHQ can step in with expedited processing and expert guidance for Finland and hundreds of other destinations. Its digital platform lets travellers submit applications online and track progress in real time, and live agents can advise on documentation requirements—see https://www.visahq.com/finland/ for details.
The dispute centres on wage scales and rostering flexibility after the collective labour agreement expired on 30 September. Talks mediated by the National Conciliator broke down late on 22 December. For corporate travel managers the timing is grim: Helsinki Airport (HEL) was expecting peak traffic as firms wrap up year-end projects.
Travellers whose trips cannot be re-scheduled may claim refunds or EU 261 compensation, but Finnair warns that processing times could exceed 30 days. Mobility teams should advise assignees to hold on to boarding passes and booking receipts and to consider rail connections to regional Nordic capitals where possible.
Analysts note that repeated aviation strikes—ground handlers in March and political industrial action last February—are eroding Finland’s post-pandemic connectivity. Contingency planning for Q1 2026 travel is therefore prudent.
