Italy's Air Travel Grinds to Partial Halt Amid Nationwide Strike

Nationwide Air Travel Strike Grips Italy

Italy is experiencing widespread disruption to its air travel sector today, September 26, 2025, as airport and airline staff across the country engage in a 24-hour nationwide strike. The industrial action, called by several prominent unions, is impacting operations at major airports and leading to numerous flight delays and cancellations.

The strike involves a broad spectrum of aviation personnel, including airline crews, ground staff, baggage handlers, and security workers. Low-cost carriers Volotea and Wizz Air Malta are particularly affected, with their pilots and cabin crew striking for the full 24 hours.

Key Airports and Personnel Affected

Major Italian airports are feeling the brunt of the industrial action. Significant disruption is reported at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa, Venice, and Sardinia's Cagliari Elmas. Other airports experiencing impacts include Rome Fiumicino, Bologna, Turin, Ciampino, Palermo, Catania, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Crotone, Cuneo, Naples, Salerno, Bergamo, and Pantelleria.

Ground handling staff from companies such as Assohandlers, Aviapartner, GH Italy, and Swissport are staging coordinated stoppages, primarily for a four-hour period between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM local time. Security personnel at Cagliari Elmas Airport are striking for the entire day, as are drivers at Milan's airports and cleaning staff at Milan Malpensa.

Reasons for the Industrial Action

The strike has been called by unions including CUB Trasporti, USB, Filt Cgil, Uilt-Uil, Ugl Trasporto Aereo, and Anpac. The primary motivations behind the walkout are demands for:

• Better working conditions
• Increased pay and staffing
• Revision of economic treatments and contractual agreements
• Protection of health and safety
• Transparency in relations with worker representatives

Some unions, such as CUB Trasporti, have also cited broader concerns, including 'solidarity with the Palestinian people' and a 'condemnation of the use of airports for arms shipments' in conflict zones.

Guaranteed Services and Passenger Advice

Despite the widespread disruption, Italy's aviation regulator, ENAC, has mandated that minimum service levels must be guaranteed. Flights scheduled between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM and again from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM local time are protected and must operate. ENAC has published a list of these guaranteed flights on its website. Essential flights, such as medical or emergency transport, will also continue.

Passengers traveling to, from, or within Italy today are strongly advised to check the status of their flights directly with their airline and airport before heading to the airport. Travelers should anticipate longer queues at check-in and security and consider flexible booking options or travel insurance.

Broader Context of Transport Unrest

This air travel strike is part of a larger series of industrial actions affecting Italy's transport sector. Further disruptions are anticipated in October, including a nationwide rail strike scheduled for October 2-3, and additional airport and public transport strikes, notably in Rome on October 10 and at Rome Fiumicino, Pisa, and Florence airports on October 13. Ground handling staff at Milan Linate are also planning another strike on October 29.