Aircraft mechanics’ strike prompts booking changes across Iceland

Tourism operators across Iceland are already seeing negative effects from planned strike action by aircraft mechanics, mbl.is reported, with widespread concern about how long the uncertainty will last.

Steinþór Jónsson, owner of Hotel Keflavík and a board member of the Association of Hotel and Accommodation Companies, said most businesses were facing a similar situation. He said operators were worried and dissatisfied that the country had reached this point again.

“When setbacks occur, tourism is affected, whether it is strikes, volcanic eruptions or economic shocks in neighbouring countries. This is not something the sector needs on top of everything else,” he told mbl.is.

Hotel operators began receiving messages about booking changes almost immediately after the strike was announced. Some travellers initially sought to change their bookings, while others warned that they might have to cancel altogether.

Although fewer booking changes were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jónsson said travellers appeared to have made new plans as soon as they heard about the impending strike. He said conversations with people across the tourism sector showed that bookings were being changed frequently and that there was considerable uncertainty.

“This is seriously harming us in tourism,” he said.

Jónsson also said the strike’s open-ended nature would worsen its impact. Foreign visitors would not be able simply to extend their stay by a few days, he said, and might instead be forced to shorten it.

He added that, given the current economic situation, the community could not easily embark on a new round of wage increases. He urged those involved to resolve the dispute before the planned action begins at midnight.