Finnair to furlough 36 long-haul pilots amid wet-lease changes

Finnair will furlough 36 pilots operating its long-haul flights. The furloughs will commence by the end of September at the latest and are expected to last at least until May 2026.

The decision stems from changes in Finnair’s wet-lease operations for a partner airline. Finnair had been operating two routes under a wet-lease agreement — where it provides aircraft and crew to another airline — but ongoing industrial action by the Finnair Pilots’ Union, which has been taking place since December 2024, has significantly impacted the airline’s ability to fulfil these commitments. As a result, only one of the two wet-lease routes will continue in future.

Finnair has held change negotiations in line with Finnish labour legislation since February, considering the possible need for pilot layoffs or furloughs. Wet-leasing has been an important revenue stream for Finnair, especially as part of its broader strategy to diversify operations and recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, industrial disputes, primarily related to working conditions and terms of employment, have strained internal operations and external collaborations.

“Unfortunately, the pilots’ industrial actions have affected our ability to operate our wet-lease operations with the reliability that is needed, resulting in changes in our collaboration and consequently, the need to furlough some of our pilots. The situation is unfortunate for all parties,” said Jaakko Schildt, Finnair’s Chief Operating Officer.

Finnair, the national airline of Finland, was founded in 1923 and is one of the longest continually operating airlines in the world. It is renowned for its high standards of safety, punctuality, and sustainability initiatives. Finnair’s strategic position in Helsinki enables it to offer some of the fastest connections between Europe and Asia, particularly to destinations in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. The carrier has been investing heavily in more fuel-efficient aircraft and innovative technologies to support its ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

Despite these challenges, Finnair remains committed to maintaining a robust network and high operational standards, while continuing dialogue with unions to ensure stability and growth in the future.