In the midst of the busy pre-Christmas period, the Finnish airline Finnair is facing a serious challenge: an announced pilot strike by the Finnish Pilots' Association will significantly disrupt operations on December 9 and 13, 2024. Around 300 flights are to be cancelled on the strike days, affecting around 33.000 passengers. The strike is also likely to have an impact on the flight schedule in the days before and after the dates mentioned. Finnair is under pressure to organize alternatives for affected travelers, while the mood between the union and management is increasingly tense. Background to the strike The Finnish Pilots' Association has announced the strike as a means of exerting pressure in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. The exact points of contention have not yet been made public in detail, but there is speculation that working conditions and the pay of pilots are at the heart of the dispute. Strikes are a legitimate means of emphasizing workers' demands in Finland, but their impact on air traffic is often serious. Finnair, the national airline of Finland, is disappointed with the union's decision. "It is disappointing that the Finnish Pilots' Association has chosen to strike instead of negotiating," said Jaakko Schildt, Chief Operating Officer of Finnair. Management appealed to the union to return to the negotiating table, but so far there are no signs of a short-term solution. Consequences for travellers The impact of the strike is far-reaching. According to Finnair, it will be difficult to arrange alternative flight connections for all affected customers. Around 140 flights on 9 December and 150 flights on 13 December are affected by the cancellations. For passengers, this means not only uncertain

The European aviation industry is facing a historic turning point: Spain has imposed a total fine of 179 million euros on five low-cost airlines. This marks a decisive blow to the current business models of many low-cost providers. The measure was led by the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Protection, which acted on a complaint from the consumer protection association FACUA. The ruling has been met with a broad response - both approval and criticism - and could have a signal effect on other countries. At the heart of the dispute is the practice of charging high fees for additional services such as larger hand luggage, seat selection or printing boarding passes. These models, which are considered essential for the profitability of low-cost airlines, have been classified as illegal by the Spanish authorities. The highest fines were imposed on Ryanair (108 million euros) and Vueling (39 million euros). EasyJet was ordered to pay 29 million euros, while Volotea and Norwegian Air got off relatively lightly with just over a million euros. According to the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Protection, the sanctions not only include the fines, but also an explicit ban on continuing the criticized practices. The airlines affected can still appeal. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary described the fines as "illegal" and accused the Spanish government of political motives. He announced that he would challenge the decision in European courts. The consumer protection association FACUA was satisfied: the fines are the highest ever imposed by a consumer protection agency. In addition, the ruling opens the way to reclaim fees already paid. For affected customers, this is a glimmer of hope in a system that has so far shown little regard for their rights. Italian and Austrian authorities