Finnair to place pilots on unpaid leave

In the present climate of demand, flight schedules and the requirement for unpaid leave are being monitored regularly, says Veikko Sievänen, Senior Vice President, Flight Operations Division.

The measures cover at this stage some 700 pilots and are part of a EUR30 million savings package being implemented by the Flight Operations Division.

Also, Finnair Catering Oy, which produces in-flight meals and is responsible for Finnair Shop sales, plans to place its entire staff on temporary unpaid leave. The leave is to be implemented according to negotiations and the length is estimated to vary between two weeks and three months. The economic situation and productivity of Finnair Catering have weakened significantly, says Kristina Inkiläinen, Managing Director of Finnair Catering Oy. The number of passengers has fallen and the travel model has changed conclusively since the beginning of the year, which has reduced sales clearly. It is predicted that operations will also be weaker in the future.

In order to ensure profitability, Finnair Catering Oy has set a target for new savings of EUR3.9 million for the current year.

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 16-Mar-09

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