How to deal with a strike at the airport
Are you flying during the strike? Follow the information provided by your airline, and show up as normal unless you have been told otherwise. Here you will find updated information on how air traffic is affected, what you should do, and who to contact if your journey is changed.
The situation can change at short notice. The airline has the most up-to-date information about your specific departure. Therefore, check the status with the airline before you travel to the airport.
At an airport, many different professions work – from administrative staff to pilots, check-in staff, security personnel, air traffic controllers, firefighters, and snow removal crews.
All functions at an airport are an important piece in keeping the airport running, and that is why it is also very noticeable if something is not working as normal.
In Norway, the various professions are organized into different labor unions, which negotiate agreements on behalf of their members. And precisely because there are so many different jobs at an airport, an airport can be affected by different strike actions.
A strike can have consequences for your trip, and many people are also unsure what to do when there is a risk of a strike. Here we have gathered the most important advice for you who are traveling:
This is what you should do if you are going to fly
- Check the status of your flight with the airline.
- Keep an eye on SMS, email, and information in the airline’s app or on its website.
- Show up as normal unless the airline has given you other instructions.
- Do not cancel the trip yourself just because there is a risk of a strike or delays.
You can also follow updated departure and arrival information on avinor.no and in the Avinor app.
Will my flight go?
The safest answer comes from your airline.
It is the airline that decides which departures may need to be delayed or canceled, and that must inform you if your trip is affected.
Therefore, check the information from the airline and the status of your specific departure.
Should I go to the airport?
Yes, unless the airline has given you other instructions.
Follow the airline’s recommended check-in time. If you have been told that the flight is canceled, delayed, or that you should arrive at a different time, follow the information from the airline.
My flight is delayed or canceled – who should I contact?
It is the airline that is responsible for your trip.
Contact the airline if you need help with:
- delays or cancellations
- rebooking
- refund
- food and drink during a long wait
- any accommodation and transport to a hotel
If you are already at the airport, you can also get help from the airline’s representative or the ground handling company that serves the airline.
Avinor can provide general information about the traffic situation at the airport, but cannot rebook your ticket or determine what rights you have vis-à-vis the airline.
Do not cancel the trip yourself just because there is a risk of a strike
If the flight is still scheduled to go, you should normally not cancel the trip on your own initiative.
If you cancel on your own, it may affect your ability to get a refund or other assistance. Therefore, wait for information from the airline if you are unsure whether the departure will take place.
What rights do I have if the flight is delayed or canceled?
In the event of a major delay or cancellation, you may be entitled to, among other things, rebooking, a refund, food and drink, or accommodation.
What rights you have depends on what has happened and how long the trip is delayed.
Read more about your rights when your flight is delayed or canceled
Why does the strike affect air traffic?
Many different professions and businesses must work together for air traffic to function.
In Norway, the various professions are organized into different labor unions, which negotiate agreements on behalf of their members. And precisely because there are so many different jobs at an airport, an airport can be affected by different strike actions.
A strike among, for example, air traffic controllers, airline employees, ground personnel, or other operational professional groups can therefore reduce capacity or cause parts of air traffic to be suspended.
Avinor Air Navigation Services provides air traffic services in Norwegian airspace and at a number of airports. If the strike reduces staffing, air traffic must be adjusted to the available capacity.
How serious the consequences are depends, among other things, on who is taken out on strike, which airports and parts of the airspace are affected, and how long the strike lasts.