Brits warned of 'chaos' at European airports - 'it isn't over'

Strikes at a airport are not over as and Brits should brace for more "chaos", an expert has warned. The (IAU) has warned that after industrial action affected Helsinki Airport on May 16 and 19, it could stage more walkouts on May 30 and June 2 if no deal is reached in their talks with Palta over employee contracts. It is thought that Finland's capital is not the only one that's vulnerable, but regional are also "bracing for chaos".

Anton Radchenko, Aviation Expert and Founder of AirAdvisor, said disruption will also affect Tampere and Turku airports, and this will "likely continue into early summer". Therefore, alternative routes, via Stockholm, Tallinn, Copenhagen, will "sell out fast". UK holidaymakers should avoid connections via Helsinki altogether, if possible, he added. The expert has also advised tarvellers to avoid Helsinki connections throughout June and reroute via Sweden or Estonia.

This can be done by using ferry or train combinations for a "more reliable Plan B".

Mr Radchenko also suggested tracking your flight and baggage in real-time with apps like FlightRadar24 and AirTags, and using multilingual customer service lines for faster responses, such as Finnair's German or Swedish lines.

In addition, AirAdvisor has pointed out that new data from FerryScan and Hotels.com shows that ferry fares from Tallinn to Helsinki spiked 120% in the 24hours after the May 16 strike was announced, up to £180 one way.

Similarly, Airbnb rates in Helsinki jumped 45% overnight. "These fuelled costs can add £100 to £200 per person to a trip for UK tourists," the firm said.

Mr Radchenko said: "At this peak time of summer travel, UK travellers should brace themselves for more than just cancelled flights. The Finnish strikes are having a ripple effect across Europe - from rising ferry fares to broken Asia connections and chaotic airport scenes. We've seen over 4,000 Brits affected already, and the disruption isn't slowing down.

"Finland has always been known for its seamless connections between the UK and Asia, but the current labour unrest is seriously killing that reputation. With more strikes lined up, this is a slow-motion collapse of reliability in one of Europe's most strategic aviation hubs.

"The reputational cost could be long-term if Finland doesn't resolve this soon. Business travellers and holidaymakers are already making different choices, and once trust is lost, it's hard to win back. Finland needs to act fast or risk losing its role as a northern gateway."