Finnair faces disruptions as pilots reject conciliator's proposal

Schildt also emphasized the need for solutions in negotiations, noting significant changes in Finnair’s operating environment since February 2022 when it was barred from using Russian airspace. "Finland needs flight connections and a competitive flag carrier," he stated.

The ban on Russian airspace usage came after Western sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While European carriers like Finnair are restricted, Chinese airlines continue to fly over Russia to Europe and the US, creating an uneven competitive landscape.

Further complicating matters for Finnair are ongoing strikes by FALPA–SLL since contract negotiations began in August. A strike scheduled for December 9 and another planned for December 13 threaten around 300 flights and approximately 33,000 customers. On November 23, Schildt expressed disappointment over the strikes but assured efforts to provide alternative flights.

Additional disruptions occurred on December 2 when ground handlers at Helsinki Airport staged a walk-out due to internal issues involving unauthorized disclosure of information by two employees.

According to Cirium data, Finnair has scheduled nearly a thousand weekly flights from Helsinki Airport in December with routes including Asia and several US destinations such as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport.