How to deal with a strike at the airport
Are you unsure about how you, as a passenger, should handle an airline strike? Then you should keep reading.
Information about expected consequences during the strike (updated):
In general, capacity will first be prioritized for search and rescue, ambulance, police, and the Armed Forces’ operational flights, followed by regular scheduled traffic and offshore helicopter traffic. Other traffic will be restricted as needed to maintain the best possible capacity for prioritized traffic.
Avinor Air Navigation Services provides air traffic services in Norwegian airspace and at a number of airports. Aviation safety will always have top priority. If a strike affects capacity, air traffic will have to be adjusted to the staffing available.
Friday, August 21
Delays at Flesland and Gardermoen throughout the afternoon and evening. The delays will increase throughout the day and become significant during the evening. Knock-on effects will be felt across the country throughout the evening.
Saturday, August 22
Some delays at Gardermoen. Moderate delays in Western Norway and increasing at Flesland throughout the day and into the evening. Significant restrictions and at times closed airspace over Western Norway are expected Saturday evening.
Sunday, August 23
Gardermoen closed to traffic from 06:30 to 11:30. Expect major delays, cancellations, and subsequent effects throughout the day. The traffic consequences will be felt throughout the country.
Monday, August 24
Expect some delays in the morning, but fewer as the day goes on at both Gardermoen and Flesland. Delays over Western Norway will increase somewhat into the afternoon and evening. The aftereffects from Sunday will be noticeable throughout Monday.
At an airport, many different occupational groups work — everything 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 usual.
In Norway, the different occupational groups are organized into various trade 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 affect your trip, and many 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 about to travel:
Will your flight go ahead?
The surest answer comes from your airline. The airline has an overview of which departures may be canceled or delayed, and is responsible for informing you if your trip is affected. Therefore, keep an eye on messages from the airline, check the airline’s website or app, and use avinor.no or the Avinor app for updated traffic information from the airport.
Remember that no one knows for sure whether there will be a strike or not until mediation has been concluded.
Where can you get information
When you book an airline ticket with an airline, you enter into a legal purchase agreement with your airline. This means that your airline is responsible for your trip and for you as a passenger.
If anything happens to your trip, it is therefore the airline you should contact. The airlines have customer centers you can contact from home. If you are at an airport, you can contact the airport service desk or your handling company.
On our websites and in the Avinor app, we have contact information for the handling companies. For Oslo Airport, you can find the list here:
In the event of a strike or incident that affects air traffic, Avinor also updates the websites with deviation notices for the airports concerned.
Where should you go?
If the question concerns your ticket, rebooking, refund, cancellation, or delay, you should contact the airline you are traveling with. If you are already at the airport, you can also contact the airline’s representative, the service desk, or the handling company managing your trip. Avinor can provide general information about the traffic situation at the airport, but it is the airline that is responsible for your specific trip.
Should you show up at the airport?
The answer is yes! You should always follow the information you receive from your airline. Unless you have been told that your flight has been canceled or delayed, you should show up as normal and follow the airlines’ advice on check-in time.
Who is responsible for rebooking you or arranging accommodation?
It is the airline that is responsible for helping you if the flight is canceled or significantly delayed. At most airports, it is the airline’s ground handling company, also called the handling company, that helps you with this.