Travelers heading to or through Italy this weekend are in for a rough ride. Airport workers across the country will strike on Saturday July 26 from 1 pm to 5 pm local time.
Even a short four hour strike in the middle of a peak summer Saturday is enough to throw flight schedules off for the rest of the day.
The strike will hit almost every major airport in the country. Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice, Florence and Naples are all expected to be affected.
Airlines that depend heavily on these airports like Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Volotea and ITA Airways are preparing for a day of cancellations and long delays.
Why the strike is happening
Ground staff, baggage handlers and security workers are walking out because they want better working conditions. They are asking for fairer schedules, updated safety measures and a new national contract.
Unions say staffing levels and pay have not kept pace with the pressure of record passenger numbers.
What this means for passengers
Even if the walkout only lasts four hours, the effects will spread well beyond that time. Flights that are scheduled to leave in the late morning and early afternoon may be delayed until evening.
Flights that should land during those hours may be diverted or cancelled. Once those knock-on delays start, they ripple through the rest of the day.
Check-in desks, baggage drop and security checks will move slowly. Expect long lines and tense crowds. Travelers connecting through Italy on Saturday afternoon are most at risk of missing connections.
Airlines across Europe are warning of possible delays even in airports outside Italy as planes and crews get stuck in the wrong place.
Will you get compensation
Strikes like this are classed as extraordinary circumstances under EU passenger rules. That means airlines do not usually have to pay the standard compensation for delays and cancellations.
They are still responsible for meals, drinks, and hotel rooms if you end up stuck overnight. One exception may be Volotea flights because the strike involves their own crews as well as airport staff. In those cases there may be a stronger claim for cash compensation.
How to reduce the risk
If you have a ticket for Saturday, check your flight status regularly in the 24 hours before you travel. Sign up for your airline’s text or app alerts. Try to move to an early morning or evening flight if your airline gives you that option.
Flights leaving before 10 am and after 6 pm often operate with fewer problems because Italian law guarantees some level of service at those times.
Arrive at the airport much earlier than you normally would. Keep receipts for food, taxis or hotels in case you need to ask for reimbursement later. If you can travel with only a carry‑on bag you will have a much easier time moving between flights.
A summer of strikes
This is only the latest in a string of transport strikes across Europe this summer. French air traffic control walkouts earlier in July caused thousands of cancellations and delays across the continent.
Spain and Portugal are also facing strikes from airport and ground handling staff in the coming weeks. The combined effect is putting extra stress on airports that are already full of holiday passengers.
The bottom line
If you are flying through Italy on July 26, build in time for disruptions. Even if your flight is not cancelled, chances are high it will be delayed.
For those with weddings, cruises or tours starting that weekend, consider arriving a day early. Patience and a backup plan will matter as much as your ticket.
