Struggling Finnish national carrier Finnair said on Monday it expected its operating losses this year to amount to around 200 million euros ($299.2 million).

Finnair Chief Executive Jukka Hienonen was quoted by Finnish business daily Kauppalehti as saying the carrier would make a 200 million euro loss this year but its operations would be profitable.

Finnair spokesman Taneli Hassinen confirmed the comments.

But this is not a new guidance ... with our cost cutting programmes the losses could be smaller, Hassinen said.

Finnair pilots are currently on strike after talks to settle a dispute over outsourcing failed at the weekend.

(Reporting by Eva Lamppu; Editing by Dan Lalor) ($1 = 0.6685 euro)