The pilots of the Finnish airline Finnair have been on strike for several days following the breakdown of wage negotiations between the pilots’ union and Finnair.

The daily Eesti Päevaleht is worried about the effects on Estonia:

“Hardly has the Estonian Air ceased flying to Helsinki on the grounds that there are already enough flights, when the situation is suddenly aggravated by the strike of the Finnair pilots.

Estonian Air could hardly have chosen a worse time: Were its spies dozing? Now the route is only being flown by the airline Avies with mini airplanes, which normally fly from Tallinn to Kärdla [on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa], and that is only a drop in the ocean.

If one considers what a major role Helsinki airport plays for the Estonians as a gateway to the world, this strike makes it clear how vulnerable the Estonian transport connections are, while Riga is increasingly becoming a hub.”