Another six Norwegian airports closed on Tuesday as a ground workers' strike escalated and continued to pinch the oil industry relying on airports in western Norway for access to its offshore oil and gas platforms.
A total of 12 airports have been shut due to the strike, which began last Friday, airport owner Avinor said on Tuesday.
The airport in Stavanger, Norway's "oil capital" and home to Norwegian energy group StatoilHydro's headquarters, was among those shut on Tuesday.
StatoilHydro said the strike so far did not have any impact on production but that it had to re-route helicopter traffic with its North Sea platforms to other airports.
The strike began on May 16, when unions representing airport workers responsible for rescue services, fire fighting and security rejected Avinor's wage offer, holding out for better terms. Details of the talks have not been revealed.
Avinor spokesman Sindre Aanonsen said on Tuesday it was unclear when talks could restart. The Norwegian government has said it would not step in to resolve the dispute at this point.
Aanonsen said any additional expansion of the strike would have to be reported at least four days in advance, and that so far, this had not been done.
The new airports closed by the strike were Alta, Leknes, Sandnessjoen, Sogndal, Svolvaer and Stavanger, Avinor said.
The strike has already shut airports in Bergen, Norway's second largest city and another base for helicopter traffic to offshore oil and gas platforms, as well as Narvik, Molde, Mo i Rana, Mosjoen and Kristiansund.
Avinor said the strike was also stepped up at Norway's main airport, Gardermoen, but that it would not affect traffic to airports other than the ones already closed.
