Finnair Ground Workers Plan More Strikes, Threatening June Travel

Ground Staff Walk Off Again—And This Time, You’ve Got a Heads-Up

After back-to-back months of travel turbulence, Finnair passengers are once again facing the ripple effects of labor unrest. The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has announced three more strike days—May 30, June 2, and June 4—impacting ground operations at Helsinki Airport and other parts of the airline’s network.

According to Finnair’s official statement, the industrial action could affect customer service, aircraft maintenance, baggage handling, cargo, and catering. While the exact number of workers participating isn’t confirmed, past walkouts have drawn between 300 and 600 employees, leading to as many as 110 flight cancellations per day.

Why It’s Happening

The strikes are part of a broader wave of discontent among Finnair’s employee groups. Over the past six months, the airline has faced repeated labor disputes, including a drawn-out conflict with pilots (now suspended) and a recently resolved dispute with cabin crew.

Ground staff, represented by the IAU, are pushing back on job security concerns and working conditions—though the union has not publicly detailed specific demands. The strike action follows earlier protests in May that forced Finnair to cancel dozens of flights.

What Passengers Are Saying

Travelers are growing weary of the ongoing disruptions. Though Finnair has generally done a decent job rebooking passengers—sometimes on partner airlines—the reroutings aren’t always pretty. Some travelers report multi-stop detours and long layovers.

Adding to the stress is the timing of the cancellations. Finnair usually finalizes strike-day flight cancellations only a day or two in advance, leaving passengers scrambling for alternatives at the last minute.

Your Options If You're Booked on a Strike Day

If you’re flying revenue, confirmed on Finnair on May 30, June 2, or June 4, you have a few choices:

• Change your flight: Finnair is allowing free rebooking for passengers scheduled to fly on those dates.

• Request a refund: If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, you’re entitled to a refund under EU regulation EC 261/2004.

• Duty of care: Finnair is obligated to cover meals and accommodation during long delays or overnight disruptions.

Note that compensation under EC 261 may not apply if the strike is considered beyond the airline’s control—especially if the striking employees are not directly employed by the airline.

Finnair has urged customers to keep their contact information updated via the Manage Booking section or Finnair app to receive real-time alerts on their flight status.

What This Means for Airline Staff and Nonrev Travelers

For nonrevving airline employees, this is not the time to gamble on Finnair. Strike-day flights may appear wide open on paper, but they’re at high risk of being canceled—or rerouted in ways that make standby travel nearly impossible.

Even before the strikes, Finnair has been struggling to maintain reliable operations. Between snowballing employee disputes and rebooking priorities for revenue passengers, jumpseating or listing on Finnair this month might be more trouble than it’s worth.

If you’re stuck in HEL (literally), consider checking StaffTraveler or FlightStats to monitor alternative routings on SAS, Norwegian, or Lufthansa. Nearby airports like Tallinn (TLL) or Riga (RIX) may offer better escape plans.