Finnair Cancels 110 Flights Scheduled For June 4, 2025 & Catering Issues

Finnair has faced numerous challenges with its various employee groups over the past six months, to the extent that it has been the airline with the highest percentage of flight cancellations this year (read more here).

Finnair is currently experiencing its second day of strikes in a row over the past week. The next strike date is this coming Wednesday (June 4, 2025), and the airline has cancelled 110 flights scheduled for that day. There is also minimal catering on short-haul flights until June 5th..

You can access Finnair here.

It is unclear how many employees in customer service, aircraft maintenance, baggage handling, cargo, ground handling operations, and catering are participating; however, the number has varied between 300 and 600 during previous similar actions.

The number of flights cancelled on strike dates has varied between 60 to 110, and the cancellations are usually rolled out a day or two before the strike.

Finnair has been pretty good at rebooking affected passengers on other airlines, but the routings are not always optimal (many transfers).

The EC 261/2004 Air Passenger Rights legislation also applies during these strikes. The airlines are required to rebook you to your final destination as soon as possible and provide Duty to Care (accommodation and meals) in case of long delays.

Passengers whose flight is cancelled or significantly delayed can also opt for a refund, but that is their choice.

The delay compensation doesn’t apply if the striking employees are not employed by the airline.

Finnair’s June 4 Update:

Finnair to cancel approximately 110 flights due to industrial action at Helsinki Airport on 4 June, re-routes customers to alternative flights

The Finnish Aviation Union IAU has announced industrial action at Finnair’s home hub, Helsinki Airport, causing extensive disruptions to traffic on Wednesday, 4 June. According to the IAU, industrial actions are similar to those carried out earlier in May–June. The four-hour industrial actions target different work shifts and thus affect many functions essential also to Finnair’s flights throughout the day, such as ground handling operations and catering services.

As industrial action will cause significant disruptions to the operation of flights, Finnair will have to cancel approximately 110 flights on Wednesday. Flight cancellations are expected to affect approximately 11,000 Finnair customers. Finnair will offer customers of cancelled flights an alternative flight. Finnair has previously allowed customers scheduled to travel on strike days to reschedule their flights, helping them avoid disruptions, and thousands of customers have taken advantage of this opportunity.

Customers whose flight was cancelled due to industrial action will be informed about the cancellation as soon as it has been done. After this, the customer will receive a message and be offered a new route, which will also be visible in Finnair’s Manage booking service and mobile application. The offered routing can be changed within the limits of flight availability in Manage booking or through customer service. Alternatively, customers can cancel their reservation and apply for a refund for the unused ticket.

Customers are asked to make sure that their contact information is up to date on their reservation.

The industrial action might cause disruptions, for example, in the baggage handling at Helsinki Airport on Wednesday, so customers travelling on Wednesday are encouraged to check-in in advance, arrive at the airport on time and pack essential items, such as medicines, in carry-on baggage.

The IAU has also announced similar industrial action on Wednesday, 11 June. Finnair is still assessing the exact effects of the industrial action on that day’s traffic, but it is likely that if it takes place, it will cause disruptions on that day as well. We expect the effect to be mainly on flights operated by Norra.

Finnair has previously allowed customers scheduled to travel on strike days to reschedule their flights. Customers with flights on Wednesday, 11 June, can change their travel dates by contacting Finnair customer service or the party that sold the ticket.

Finnair’s short-haul flights are operating with minimal or near-zero catering through Thursday. The airline is encouraging passengers to bring their own food.

Finnair Short-Haul Flights Minimal Catering June 2 – 5, 2025 (Bring Your Own Food)

Finnair’s EC 261/2004 Notice:

Conclusion

It is unclear what the subsequent strike dates will be after the current announced one this coming Wednesday, or if the parties are willing to find an agreement that suits both.

There were significant flight cancellations on Friday, and a similar number are cancelled for Wednesday. Only about 50 flights scheduled for today were cancelled.

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