Milan airport strike slows Linate and Malpensa all day

Published on Sep 14, 2025, 6:09 am CDT

5 min read

A 24-hour ground handling walkout is hitting both Milan airports on September 14, thinning schedules and lengthening lines. Flights can still operate under Italy's minimum-service rules, but travelers should expect slower check-in, delayed bags, and scattered cancellations. Unions say staffing and contract issues are behind the action, which targets Airport Handling crews that support multiple airlines at both airports. Airlines are consolidating flights where possible and warning of day-long knock-on delays.

Key Points

Why it matters: Linate and Malpensa handle key domestic and European hubs, so today's disruption can ripple across connections.
Travel impact: Longer lines at check-in and bag drop, slower turnarounds, and selective cancellations through the day.
What's next: More aviation strikes are slated for late September in Italy, with additional Milan handling stoppages flagged.
Minimum-service rules protect some flights, but baggage delivery may still lag.
Arrive early, travel carry-on if possible, and monitor your airline's app for rebooking options.

Snapshot

The strike involves Airport Handling personnel supporting carriers at Milan Linate Airport, LIN, and Milano Malpensa Airport, MXP. Italy's aviation regulator lists protected operating windows during strikes, typically 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when flights must operate. Outside those bands, airlines may cancel or retime services to preserve aircraft rotations and crew duty limits. Expect priority for long-haul departures and feeder flights to major hubs, with regional and leisure routes more likely to see schedule thinning. On arrival, baggage delivery is the main pinch point, followed by slow aircraft turnarounds that cascade into delays later in the day.

Background

Unions including USB Lavoro Privato announced a 24-hour action at Milan's two airports focused on ground operations. Advance notices circulated in late August and early September flagged today's date, giving airlines latitude to pre-cancel and consolidate. Italy's strike framework also requires a list of guaranteed flights and time bands to protect mobility, especially for island links and essential services. Airport Handling supports a mix of Italian and foreign carriers, so impacts vary by airline and terminal. The airports remain open, security screening continues, and air traffic control is not part of today's action. Expect crowding to ebb and flow with the protected bands and late-evening departure banks.

Latest Developments

Minimum-service rules keep some flights moving

During strikes, Italian regulations require guaranteed services. ENAC publishes protected time bands and indispensable flights, which carriers generally honor. The result is a patchwork of operations, with flights clustered in the morning and evening protections, and a thinner schedule midday. Travelers should not assume that a confirmed seat equals timely baggage delivery, since ramp and sortation staffing are the constraint. Check your flight status before leaving for the airport, and budget extra time for check-in and security, especially if you must check a bag.

Airlines consolidate and retime to blunt disruption

Because ground handling is shared, airlines adapt by upgauging aircraft, combining lightly booked services, or shifting flights into protected windows. Expect rolling delays to build during the afternoon as aircraft and crews miss scheduled turns. Same-day misconnects are most likely for short connection windows, particularly on itineraries that rely on onward European feeders.

Late-September actions could compound recovery

Separate national aviation strikes are slated around September 26, including additional Milan handling stoppages of shorter duration and actions by other worker groups. Even if those later walkouts are narrower, planning around them can slow recovery and keep load factors uneven. Travelers with flexibility should consider morning departures in the protected bands and avoid tight connections during the second half of the month. For broader European context, see our coverage of the upcoming France ATC action, which could further stress overflights and reroutes. Related reading, France air traffic control strike set for Sept 18-19.

Analysis

Operationally, Milan's strike bites in three places, check-in, ramp, and baggage. Self-service kiosks reduce front-of-house pressure, but document checks for Schengen-external flights still require agents, which stretches queues. On the ramp, reduced loading, fueling support, and towing slow turn times, so a single late inbound can cascade across an airline's afternoon bank. Baggage is the traveler pain point, since limited sortation and belt staffing lead to long waits or late-delivered bags, even when flights operate near on time. Expect airlines to prioritize long-haul and hub-feed services in the protected bands, leaving point-to-point leisure routes more vulnerable to cancellation. From a rights perspective, EC 261 duty of care applies, meals and hotels during long delays, but compensation may be disputed as strikes are often treated as extraordinary circumstances. For risk control, travel with carry-on, add a one-hour buffer to normal airport arrival times, and keep onward connections at 90 minutes or longer.

Final Thoughts

If you are booked through Milan today, assume your flight can operate but plan for lines and late bags. Use your airline's app to confirm gate and baggage carousel changes, and pack essentials in your carry-on. With more industrial actions on the calendar later in September, building slack into itineraries is the safest move. Clear communication from airlines will improve as the day unfolds, but conservative planning remains the best hedge during a Milan airport strike.