Oh dear, just when you thought your summer holiday plans were all plane sailing, it looks like Italy is throwing a bit of a wrench or should I say, a spanner in the works with widespread airport strikes this Saturday! If you’re flying with airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, Volotea, or Wizz Air, among others, you might find your grand escape hitting a rather unexpected delay.
Thousands of unlucky travellers could see their carefully planned getaways thrown into utter mayhem this weekend. Airport workers across Italy are staging a four hour nationwide strike on July 26th, from 1 PM to 5 PM. This could lead to dozens of flights being delayed or even cancelled. Why, you ask? Well, they’re demanding better safety, improved working conditions (because who wants unsafe working conditions, honestly?), a better work life balance, and new contracts. Sounds reasonable, but for those with flights booked, it’s a real headwind.
And just to add a bit more spice to the travel turmoil, there are also strikes brewing at airports across Spain and Portugal. So, it’s not just an Italian job; it’s a whole European air-pocalypse in the making!
Where Will Your Flight Get Grounded?
Major airlines like EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Wizz Air, TUI, Volotea, and ITA Airways could all be affected. We’re talking baggage handlers, ground staff, and pretty much everyone else who helps keep the airport running, walking out at every major Italian airport from 1 PM to 5 PM on Saturday.
This includes big hubs like Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Florence, Naples, and Venice. At Milan Linate, even the Swissport gate services and check-in staff are joining the strike. We’ve already seen what Italian strikes can do; earlier this month, 73 flights were cancelled in just one day, impacting cities like Milan, Venice, and Naples. It’s truly a flightmare!
Over in Spain, budget airline Volotea’s crew and pilots are also staging a strike on Saturday. Given that Volotea flies to over 100 European cities, this could cause widespread disruption across key European routes. Talk about a domino effect!
And if that wasn’t enough, Portugal is joining the party too. Workers at Menzies Aviation (formerly Groundforce) will be striking during the last weekend of July and the last four weekends of August, with Lisbon Airport expected to be particularly hard hit. Their protest kicks off on July 26th at midnight and runs until July 29th at midnight. Then, it’s repeat performances on various weekends throughout August. So, if you’re planning a late summer escape, keep those strike dates firmly in your flight plan!
What’s a Traveller to Do?
While these upcoming strikes are undoubtedly a massive pain, there are a few things you can do to try and lessen the impact.
- Check the Italian Ministry of Transport’s website for official strike information.
- Ask your specific airline and airport for the latest updates.
- Confirm your flight status before you even think about leaving for the airport.
If you absolutely can’t change your travel plans, try to avoid peak hours when heading to the airport and arrive with plenty of time to spare. Because, let’s be honest, you’ll probably need it!
The good news is, Italian law requires minimum service levels during strikes, meaning some flights will operate. Flights scheduled between 7 AM and 10 AM, and between 6 PM and 9 PM, usually fall under these rules and are likely to be spared. The Italian Civil Aviation Authority even publishes a list of these “guaranteed flights,” which is worth checking for alternative arrangements. Oh, and flights to certain islands like Sardinia, Sicily, and Lampedusa are often exempt from strikes too. Because, priorities!
And here’s a silver lining: you might even be entitled to compensation! According to Darina Kovacheva, a legal expert at SkyRefund, if an airline’s own employees cause disruption (like the Volotea strike), passengers could be eligible for £250 to £520 depending on their flight distance. So, if your holiday gets grounded, at least you might get a little payback for your trouble!
Do you think these strikes are justified, or are they just a turbulent start to the summer for innocent travellers?
