The Finnish Air Line Pilots’ Association (SLL) has notified national carrier Finnair of two 24-hour strikes scheduled for 9 and 13 December after collective-bargaining talks over pay and roster stability stalled yet again. An alert issued on 29 December states that the work-stoppages will ground approximately 300 flights—affecting up to 39,000 passengers—and could be escalated if no agreement is reached.
Although the strike dates fall outside the statutory two-week advance-notice window, Finnair has pre-emptively cancelled flights to minimise last-minute chaos. The carrier says re-booking capacity is limited because several European hubs are already stretched by winter-weather delays. Global mobility teams are therefore urged to review January and February travel books; long-haul connections via Helsinki may need to be rerouted through Copenhagen or Stockholm.
The dispute is part of a wider wave of industrial action across Finland’s transport and logistics sectors, where unions are pushing back against government proposals to tighten strike rules and ease layoffs. For multinational employers the ripple effects extend beyond passenger flights: Finnair Cargo warns that belly-hold capacity on Asia-Europe routes will drop, potentially delaying time-sensitive spare parts and clinical-trial samples routed through Vantaa.
![Finnair pilots call 48-hour walkouts, forcing airline to cancel 300 December flights]()
Amid these rerouting headaches, travellers may also face unexpected visa or transit-permit requirements when detouring through other Schengen gateways. VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides rapid eligibility checks, step-by-step application support and courier services, helping mobility teams keep employees compliant while Finnair’s schedules remain volatile.
Negotiations continue under the auspices of the National Conciliator, but insiders say positions remain far apart. If talks collapse, the SLL could invoke rolling one-day strikes every week in the first quarter of 2026—a scenario that would undermine Helsinki’s status as a reliable northern hub. Mobility managers should monitor Finnair’s travel waiver page, activate traveller-tracking alerts and remind staff that EU261 compensation claims apply only when disruption is not caused by an organised strike announced more than 14 days in advance, limiting reimbursement options.
Finnair advises customers with essential travel needs to explore inter-modal options such as VR railway sleeper services to reach continental connections, or to advance/ postpone trips until mid-December if possible. The airline will update its strike FAQ daily.
Although the strike dates fall outside the statutory two-week advance-notice window, Finnair has pre-emptively cancelled flights to minimise last-minute chaos. The carrier says re-booking capacity is limited because several European hubs are already stretched by winter-weather delays. Global mobility teams are therefore urged to review January and February travel books; long-haul connections via Helsinki may need to be rerouted through Copenhagen or Stockholm.
The dispute is part of a wider wave of industrial action across Finland’s transport and logistics sectors, where unions are pushing back against government proposals to tighten strike rules and ease layoffs. For multinational employers the ripple effects extend beyond passenger flights: Finnair Cargo warns that belly-hold capacity on Asia-Europe routes will drop, potentially delaying time-sensitive spare parts and clinical-trial samples routed through Vantaa.
Amid these rerouting headaches, travellers may also face unexpected visa or transit-permit requirements when detouring through other Schengen gateways. VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides rapid eligibility checks, step-by-step application support and courier services, helping mobility teams keep employees compliant while Finnair’s schedules remain volatile.
Negotiations continue under the auspices of the National Conciliator, but insiders say positions remain far apart. If talks collapse, the SLL could invoke rolling one-day strikes every week in the first quarter of 2026—a scenario that would undermine Helsinki’s status as a reliable northern hub. Mobility managers should monitor Finnair’s travel waiver page, activate traveller-tracking alerts and remind staff that EU261 compensation claims apply only when disruption is not caused by an organised strike announced more than 14 days in advance, limiting reimbursement options.
Finnair advises customers with essential travel needs to explore inter-modal options such as VR railway sleeper services to reach continental connections, or to advance/ postpone trips until mid-December if possible. The airline will update its strike FAQ daily.
