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HELSINKI (AP) - Finnair says some 10,000 passengers have been grounded as the airline canceled flights in anticipation of a planned strike by cabin crews and other personnel that was averted at the last minute.
Finnair spokeswoman Elina Ammala says the national carrier had cut more than 130 flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday to prepare for an impending strike that would have "paralyzed" its traffic for some two weeks.
Unions and airline representatives said the strike was called off after both sides accepted a last-minute mediation proposal by the national conciliator on Friday morning. They gave no details.
Struggling against high costs and tough competition from budget airlines, Finnair PLC has embarked on a savings program of 260 million euros ($350 million), including substantial job cuts.
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