Ground staff´s walk-out disrupts Finnair flights at Helsinki Airport

Flight operation by national flag carrier Finnair hampered as the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) observed a walk-out in the ground operations on Monday afternoon, Finnair and IAU said in separate press releases.

The IAU observed the walk-out protesting against the legal measures taken against two Finnair employees on unauthorised disclosure of information.

The walk-out started at 2:00 p.m. and continued until 4:15 p.m. disrupting various ground handling works including aircraft maintenance, catering, customer service tasks at Helsinki Airport and ground handling tasks in baggage loading.

Although the walkout was ended, the effects on flights lasted the entire Monday evening and also will continue till Tuesday, as the airlines re-route passengers from the cancelled flights, said country´s airports operator Finavia.

Finnair said that the walk-out significantly impacted on Finnair's flights and causing flight delays and cancellations.

Flight catering, baggage and cargo loading and unloading also disrupted and some of the operated flights failed load meals or baggage.

"We aim to communicate directly with customers whose flights are affected, but unfortunately last-minute changes are also possible. We recommend that customers pack their most important items, such as medicines, in their carry-on baggage," said Jaakko Schildt, Chief Operating Officer at Finnair.

Finnair also assured the passengers to arrange a new routing and if needed, accommodation for the customer, in case of cancellation of connecting flight due to the walk-out,.

The IAU is observing the walk-out protesting against a hearing with two Finnair employees on unauthorised disclosure of information.

According to Finnair, the two employees disclosed Finnair's internal and confidential information outside the company.

No permission has been requested from Finnair for the disclosure of this information, nor have Finnair's data security guidelines been followed. The information disclosed does not include customer data.

Finnair launched an investigation into the course of events as soon as they became known and has offered the employees concerned the opportunity to be heard in accordance with normal process.

Finnair has also reported the incident to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and the Data Protection Ombudsman in Finland.

"We consider the illegal walk-out and disruption of thousands of customers' journeys to be completely out of proportion and irresponsible while the investigation and hearing process is still ongoing," said Jaakko Schildt.