A EUROPEAN airline is cancelling more than 500 flights this week – and thousands will be affected.
Starting from tomorrow, the cancellations are due to ongoing strike actions by labour unions.
APMore than 500 flights are being cancelled by Finnair this week[/caption]
A number of UK-Finland flights have been cancelled tomorrow
The political strikes, taking place across Finland, has resulted in Finnair confirming the hundreds of cancellations.
Union leader Håkan Ekström said while the strike was not directed at airlines and airports, they understood it would cause “difficulties and troubles to many passengers”.
Finnair currently operates around 280 flights a day – however the majority of these will be grounded across February 1 and 2.
This is expected to cause problems for as many as 60,000 passengers over the two days.
Ground services are also expected to be affected, with any remaining flights operating facing delays.
And six airports are to be closed to passengers flights across the two-strike – Joensuu, Kajaani, Kemi-Tornio, Kokkola-Pietarsaari, Pori and Savonlinna.
Other airports still open across Finland, including Helsinki Airport, have warned of long queues at airport security, as well as some shops and restaurants being closed.
The airline said in a statement: “The political strike will have a significant impact on Helsinki Airport’s operations and on Finnair’s flight operations.
“Finnair has approximately 280 flights per day in its normal traffic program, so the vast majority of flights will be cancelled.
“Finnair targets to operate a handful of flights during the strike and will communicate directly to those customers who have booking on flights that will be flown.”
Finnair currently operates from both London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh airports, connecting to destinations such as Helsinki, Tartu and Tallin.
The 10:20am, 4:15pm and 6:10pm Finnair flights from London Heathrow to Helsinki have been cancelled tomorrow. It’s not confirmed if they will also be cancelled on February 2.
Manchester Airport‘s 10:15am and 5:50pm to Helsinki are yet to be cancelled on February 1 and 2.
And the Finnish airline also connects the UK to other long-haul destinations with a stopover at Helsinki.
The website confirmed that any “Long-haul flights with connections from Helsinki on strike days will be rerouted directly to destinations”.
Passengers affected will be contacted by text or email, and be offered a new flight or refund.
It’s not the first airline that has had to cancel flights due to strike action already in 2024.
Spanish airline Iberia was forced to cancel 460 flights earlier this month due to a four-day walkout, affecting 45,000 passengers.
Twenty-two flights to and from London Heathrow and Madrid were cancelled at the time.
And thousands of flights to and from France have already been cancelled, due to planned ATC upgrades.
It was confirmed last year that 16,500 flights would be affected between January 9 and February 14 while the airport systems were modernised.
However, you can get compensation if your flight is cancelled, depending on the reason.
UK law requires airlines to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
However, this is not the case if it is deemed to be “reasons beyond their control”.
Not only does this include strike action, but it also includes extreme weather.
Here are five things you should always do if your flight is cancelled.
Passengers are being offered new flights or refunds if affected