Finnair Furloughs Pilots, Catering Staff

Robert Wall/Paris wall@aviationweek.com

Starting in mid-April, Finnair is forcing pilots to take at least one week of unpaid leave.

The move results from changes in the airline's flight schedule. Finnair says the extent of the unpaid leave depends on aircraft type. How each aircraft type is affected hasn't been set, yet, and will be managed on a month-to-month basis, an airline official says.

The policy, handed down today, will affect around 700 pilots. Finnair says it will save the airline 30 million euros.

"In the present climate of demand, flight schedules and the requirement for

unpaid leave are being monitored regularly," says Veikko Sievanen, senior vice president, Flight Operations Division.

Additionally, the airline group is furloughing the entire Finnair Catering staff. The duration of the leave will be between two weeks and three months, management says, and still requires labor negotiations. The group is trying to find a further 3.9 euros million in savings for the year, with concern that the slowdown in business experienced this year will persist into the future.

Photo: oneworld