Air traffic controllers at Rome Fiumicino and baggage handlers at Milan Malpensa, Florence Amerigo Vespucci and Pisa Galileo Galilei plan to stage a four-hour strike, from 1pm to 5pm, on Saturday.
The protests, which are backed by some of Italy’s major airport staff unions, may result in flight delays or cancellations at any of the involved airport hubs, as well as delays in ground operations including check-in and baggage drop-off or collection services.
Pilots and cabin staff at Italy’s flagship carrier Ita Airways and Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air also plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday.
Scheduled inbound and outbound flights from both airlines may experience delays or cancellations during the walkout, though some services will be guaranteed to operate as normal under national strike laws (see below).
Ita Airways said in a statement on Wednesday that it had been forced to cancel 18 domestic flights scheduled for Saturday, including 9 flights set to arrive at Rome Fiumicino. A full list of cancelled flights can be found here.
The airline said that passengers affected by cancellations or changes to scheduled departure times will be able to rebook their journey free of charge or request a full refund by September 11th.
Further cancellations couldn’t be ruled out as the company advised anyone who’s meant to be travelling with them on Saturday to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.
READ ALSO: Key dates: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in autumn 2024
Wizz Air had not announced any flight cancellations as of Friday morning.
However, the company said in a statement that Saturday’s strike may impact “Wizz Air’s operations between 13:00 and 17:00”
In the event of disruption, “customers will be notified, if necessary, through standard communication channels,” it added.
Which flights are guaranteed?
Under Italian laws, carriers must guarantee the operation of a number of ‘essential’ services during walkouts.
Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC said intercontinental flights and some services to and from Sicily will operate as normal on Satuday.
Enac also said all domestic flights already underway at the time the strike begins (1pm) will reach their intended destination as planned.
You can see a full list of guaranteed flights is available on ENAC’s website.
What to do if your flight is cancelled
If you’re flying within the EU or from an EU country to a non-EU one, you may have the right to either a refund or rebooking under Europe’s Air Passenger Rights.
These also apply to passengers travelling from non-EU countries to EU countries if the operating airline is licensed in the EU.
Find full details HERE.
Follow all the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.
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