Strike warning forces Finnair to cancel 130 flights

Under the threat of massive strike, the Finnish national carrier Finnair cancelled about 130 flights, leaving over 10,000 passengers grounded, the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE reported Friday. The Finnish Cabin Crew Union and the Finnish Aviation Union issued a strike warning to Finnair on Wednesday that a possible large scale strike would take place from Nov. 15 to 23 if talks between the parties could not be settled. Since all flight operations in the period could not be guaranteed, Finnair cancelled 111 scheduled flights on Friday and 19 flights on Saturday. However, a compromise proposal tabled by the national conciliator was accepted by the two parties on Friday and the strike warning was finally averted. It is estimated that it would take about two to three days for Finnair to resume normal service. Cancelled Finnair flights will not be reinstated, the firm said. Labor unions started a collective negotiation with Finnair in early November. The key issue of the talks was Finnair's demand for agreement on a cost savings program.