Passengers with flights scheduled to Italy on Sunday, July 5th, should prepare for delays and cancellations. A nationwide strike involving air traffic controllers, ground staff, and flight crew is expected to impact all major airports in the country.
The most serious strike occurs in Milan Air traffic controllers at Malpensa airport will go on strike for 24 hours, which could affect not only flights departing from or arriving at the airport, but the entire air network in northern Italy.
What is stopped and where
In Rome, airport security officials Fiumicino In Ciampino, the strike lasts for eight hours, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (local time). In Pisa, the security strike lasts four hours, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Ground staff across the country are also joining the strike, with participation from major transport workers' unions including Cgil, Uil Trasporti and Cub Trasporti. This may lead to queues at check-in counters and delays in baggage delivery.
Among the airlines, EasyJet flight crews are participating in a 24-hour strike. Employees of Danish Air Transport, which operates regional flights from Palermo to the islands of Lampedusa and Pantelleria, are striking between 13 p.m. and 17 p.m.
Flights guaranteed by law
Italian law protects flights scheduled to depart between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM and between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM from strikes. Intercontinental flights and essential connections to Sicily and Sardinia are also guaranteed. The complete list is available on the website of the Italian civil aviation authority, the ENAC.
What to do if your flight is cancelled
Passengers flying to, from, or within the European Union are entitled to a refund or free rebooking. In case of a wait exceeding two hours, the airline must provide food. Last-minute cancellations may entitle passengers to compensation.
The Spanish airline Iberia has announced that it will allow passengers with flights scheduled for Sunday to bring their trip forward or postpone it at no additional cost, as a preventative measure.
