Finnair suspends flights between Helsinki and Tartu for a month

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Published Apr 29, 2024 Updated May 9, 2024

Latest Update 09.05.2024: Clarified that suspended flights concern flights between Helsinki and Tartu.

Finnair will suspend its daily flights between Helsinki and Tartu, Estonia, from April 29 to June 1, due to operational reasons. 

The approach methods currently used at Tartu Airport are based on a GPS signal. GPS interference, which is quite common in the area, affects the usability of this approach method and can therefore prevent the aircraft from approaching and landing. The issue has had an impact on Finnair flights. 

The aim is to build approach methods at Tartu Airport during the one-month suspension, that enable safe and smooth flight operations without a GPS signal. 

If customers have booked flights between Helsinki and Tartu on 29.4.-1.6.2024, they will receive a cancellation message from Finnair and will be given more information of the options by text message and/or email. Please go to Manage booking and check that we have your current contact information.   

Passenger rights are available here. 

Finnair has proposed a new connection to the customer and automatically updated the ticket.

In case the new schedule is not suitable for the customer, the SSR OTHS INVOL element in the booking permits one further free involuntary change and/or cancellation as per the below guidelines.

For bookings made via NDC: same policy applies and for booking handling contact our Agent Help Desk by clicking on the chat icon at the bottom right corner of the page (select NDC Support) for the change or cancellation.

Event	Tarto Airport not operational
Route/market/destination/airports impacted	HEL-TAY-HEL
Travel dates impacted	29APR24-01JUN24
Applies to tickets issued by	29APR24
New travel dates	+14 days from original travel date
Changes to origin/destination/stopover	Allowed between HEL and TLL, ground transportation covered by AY 29APR-12MAY24 Allowed between HEL and TLL, ground transportation NOT covered by AY 13-01JUN24
Airlines allowed	Finnair (AY) operated and marketed only, rerouting to other airlines not allowed.
Booking class to be used	Same or lowest available booking class within same cabin
Number of allowed changes	One change free of charge, further changes according to normal ticket rules
Mandatory waiver text in OSI element	OS AY CHANGE DUE TO TAY CANCELLATION OS AY REFUND DUE TO TAY CANCELLATION
Mandatory indicator in front of fare calculation on the reissued ticket	´I’-indicator if departure under 2 days of cancellation ‘S’-indicator if departure in over 2 days of cancellation
Mandatory text in the endorsement	SKCHG to be used for involuntary changes when there is more than 2 days before departure (together with ‘S’ indicator in the fare calculation) INVOL REROUTE to be used when involuntary reissue is due to unexpected reason 2 days or less before departure (together with ‘I’-indicator in the fare calculation)
Changing bookings made via NDC	The same change policy applies. For booking handling, in case not possible in the booking tool, contact our Agent Help Desk by clicking on the chat icon at the bottom right corner of the page (select NDC Support) for the change.
Refunds for bookings made via NDC	Full or partial refund is allowed, even if any of the booked flights are not cancelled by Finnair. Before requesting refund, the booking must be cancelled. 1) If the flight is not cancelled by AY, contact Agent Help Desk and request the cancellation of the booking. Proceed with the refund request via BSP/ARC. 2) If the flight is cancelled by AY, booking can be cancelled using Manage booking on Finnair.com or by contacting Agent Help Desk. Apply for refund via BSPlink Refund Application. ARC-agents, see more information about refunds on general Refunds-instructions.
Refunds for bookings made via Edifact	Full or partial refund allowed, even if any of the booked flights are not cancelled by Finnair. Cancel the booking/remaining segments and refund the ticket directly in your own GDS. If that is not possible, apply for refund via BSPlink Refund Application. ARC-agents, see more information about refunds on general Refunds-instructions.
Bookings with connecting flights not in sync with new schedule	We have tried to keep all the connections which are on the same ticket but there might be cases where it is not possible to offer a smooth connection with the changed schedule; postpone the travel to a later flight/date in original booking class or cancel the booking for a full refund, rerouting to other airline is not allowed.
Ancillaries	The above-mentioned change policy applies also to ancillaries, for the one free change follow the ancillary instructions on Easy Refund allowed only in case a similar ancillary service is not available on the new flight. Process EMD refunds via BSPlink refund application (ARC users: apply for refund via Refund Web-form and mention “ARC Agent” in the additional information box)
Groups	If tickets have been issued, Finnair will re-route to alternative services If tickets have not yet been issued, Finnair will rebook on alternative Finnair operated flights. In case an alternative option is not available and therefore offered, please contact Finnair Group Sales Support for further information
Important information	Full instructions for involuntary changes are available here. “Finnair (AY) only” also includes those flights which are operated by NoRRA or by Iberia for Finnair/Widerøe for Finnair These same rules apply also to individual bookings with TO fares. Adhering to this policy is the user’s responsibility. Finnair reserves the right to change or withdraw these guidelines at any time.

More information about customer communication at finnair.com