Italy is experiencing significant disruptions to air travel due to a 24-hour nationwide strike by ground staff, baggage handlers, and easyJet flight crew, affecting multiple major airports.
The strike, driven by labour disputes over wages, working conditions, and staffing ratios, is expected to cause delays, cancellations, and disruptions to check-in, baggage handling, and aircraft servicing. Italian law protects certain flight times, but the impact during peak hours could affect up to 40% of daily flights at key airports.
- Milan Linate (LIN): 24-hour strike by ground staff (e.g., Airport Handling, Swissport Italy) and drivers (SEA group).
- Milan Malpensa (MXP): 24-hour strike by ground staff and drivers (SEA group).
- Venice Marco Polo (VCE): 24-hour strike by ground staff (Aviation Services).
- Naples Capodichino (NAP): Four-hour strike (11:00–15:00) by Romeo Gestioni Gesac staff.
- Cagliari Elmas (CAG): Four-hour strike (13:00–17:00) by Sogaersecurity workers.
Additional disruptions are expected at Turin Caselle, Bologna, Bari, Bergamo, Verona, Ciampino, Fiumicino, Catania, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Crotone, and Salerno, where Assohandlers-affiliated companies operate.
EasyJet pilots and cabin crew based in Italy are also striking for 24 hours, potentially causing additional cancellations or delays for easyJet flights.
Italian law (Law 146/1990 and Resolution No. 14/387) guarantees certain flights, such as f lights scheduled to depart between 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00, all charter flights to/from islands (e.g., Sicily, Sardinia) authorised before the strike announcement, arrivals of international flights within 30 minutes of the strike start, all intercontinental flights (arriving and specific departing flights), state, military, emergency, medical, humanitarian, and rescue flights.
Up to 40pc of daily flights at affected airports may face delays, missed connections, or cancellations, particularly between 09:00 and 18:00. Previous strikes in June 2023 and September 2024 reduced throughput at Malpensa by one-third and forced baggage transport by truck from Venice to Bologna.
ITA Airways has cancelled 36 flights, while easyJet has not publicly acknowledged cancellations but is impacted by its staff strike. Other airlines like Ryanair may also face disruptions due to ground handling issues.
The strike stems from ongoing wage disputes between airport-services firms (represented by Assohandlers) and unions including FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, UILTrasporti, and UGL Trasporto Aereo. Key issues include:Demand for a 12% base pay increase over three years, retroactive pay rises, weekend premiums, and a cap of ten split shifts per month notwithstanding the employers’ counter-offer of a 7% pay rise and more flexible rostering, and the impact of record passenger volumes straining minimum staffing ratios.
Negotiations collapsed on June 26, 2025, prompting unions to target July 10 to maximize leverage before the Ferragosto holiday rush.
Paasenegrs are advised to book flights in the guaranteed 07:00–10:00 or 18:00–21:00 windows, as carriers often waive change fees during strikes, and carry hand luggage only to avoid checked baggage delays, as baggage handling is heavily impacted.
Passengers on cancelled or delayed flights may be entitled to rebooking, refunds, or compensation (up to €600 per person) under EU law, especially for easyJet’s staff strike, as it’s not considered an extraordinary circumstance. Contact airlines or use services like Italy Refund for claims.
While Italy rarely extends airport strikes beyond one day, unions have threatened rolling strikes through August if no agreement is reached. A separate four-hour nationwide airline and airport strike is scheduled for July 26, 2025 (13:00–17:00), involving CUB Trasporti and Volotea staff.
