Finnair is entering formal discussions with its pilots over potential job cuts, with the airline noting that if current industrial action by pilots continues, it might force changes to Finnair's cooperation agreement.
These new negotiations are set to start on February 12, 2025, to discuss a possible reduction or furlough of a maximum of 90 pilots. Negotiations between the Finnish Transport Pilots' Association (SLL) and Service Sector Employers Palta regarding Finnair pilots' collective agreement have been ongoing for over five months.
The negotiations will also discuss a plan to introduce a standby requirement into pilot employment contracts, as the SLL has announced its reluctance to collectively agree on stand-by duty in a collective agreement.
In connection with the collective labour negotiations, the pilot’s union has extended industrial action, including a stand-by ban which covers flights operated by another carrier for which will carry out wet lease operations in within Southeast Asia and Australia.
Two of Finnair’s A330 aircraft have been wet leased by another carrier, flying with Finnair crew between Sydney, Bangkok and Singapore. This is in response to the airline’s A330 aircraft having limited use in Finnair’s Asian network, following Russian airspace closures.
“It is sad that the pilot union’s prolonged industrial action has led to a situation where we have to start change negotiations,” says Kaisa Aalto-Luoto, Finnair's chief people officer. "Today is a tough day for all of us at Finnair. In our 101 years of history, we have never needed to reduce pilot positions due to operational reasons.”
Negotiations have not yet yielded any results, and the pilot union has rejected several settlement proposals by the Finnish.