DELAYS are set to hit three major airports over the weekend due to a strike by air traffic control.
The walkouts started today and will continue for the next few days with warnings of disruption.
Members of the Norwegian Air Traffic Controllers Association staff have staged strikes affecting service at Oslo Airport Gardermoen, Bergen Airport Flesland, Stavanger Airport.
This also includes workers at Røyken – an air traffic control centre.
The strike officially began just before midday today and is scheduled to continue until Monday next week.
Avinor, a company that operates most of the public airports in Norway, has warned that Oslo Airport Gardermoen could be closed for several hours during the weekend.
It added that part of the airspace over western Norway could also be closed periodically.
On the Oslo Airport Gardermoen website, a message reads: “Due to an ongoing air traffic controllers’ strike, flight operations at Avinor’s airports are currently disrupted.
“The strike is affecting capacity in Norwegian airspace, resulting in delays and cancellations across multiple departures and arrivals.
“The extent of disruptions may vary. All passengers are advised to follow updates from their airline. Avinor apologises for the inconvenience.”
Avinor spokesperson Helene W. Jensen told local media today that “delays will increase throughout the day and become worse this evening.”
Initial disruptions mainly affect flights to and from Oslo, the country’s capital.
Airlines from the UK fly into Oslo Airport Gardermoen include Ryanair, SAS, British Airways and Norwegian.
So far none of the cancelled flights area heading to or from the UK.
Passengers are being advised to check for information with their airline and if they haven’t received information about a cancellation, to go to the airport as normal.