Italy air transport strike: exact times, minimum services, and airport advisories

Published on Sep 25, 2025, 11:01 am CDT

6 min read

Nationwide walkouts will hit Italy's aviation sector on Friday, September 26, with 24-hour actions affecting flight crews, ground handling, and airport staff. Travelers should expect cancellations and rolling delays outside protected time bands. ENAC, Italy's civil aviation authority, has published the guaranteed-flights list and confirmed the legal "fasce di garanzia" windows. Milan faces extra pressure from local work stoppages, while Rome Fiumicino, Naples, and Catania advise passengers to check with airlines and arrive early for security and check-in.

Key points

Why it matters: 24-hour actions cover airline crews, airport workers, and handlers.
Travel impact: Protected windows 700-1000 and 1800-2100; many flights outside may cancel.
What's next: Expect residual delays into September 27 as aircraft and crews reposition.
Wizz Air Malta and Volotea cabin crews plan 24-hour strikes.
Assohandlers ground handling stoppage from 1000-1400 across Italian airports.

Snapshot

The strike runs from 1200 a.m. to 1159 p.m. on September 26. ENAC confirms all departures scheduled in the protected time bands 700-1000 and 1800-2100 must operate, along with specific island lifeline services listed in its guaranteed-flights notice. Unions leading the national action include CUB Trasporti; additional 24-hour actions are planned by Wizz Air Malta and Volotea flight crews, plus a 1000-1400 national stop by Assohandlers-affiliated ground handling staff. Milan adds local stoppages for SEA shuttle drivers, intensifying pressure at both airports. Expect queues at check-in, bag drop, and security, with knock-on delays for evening banks even inside protected bands.

Background

Italian law requires "minimum services" during strikes in essential sectors. In aviation, ENAC enforces guaranteed flight windows and publishes a route-by-route protected list ahead of each action. On September 26, the national aviation, airport, and airport-adjacent workforce will strike for 24 hours. Ground handling staff represented by Assohandlers will also stop work for four hours midday, which can cause baggage and turnaround delays even when flights are legally protected. Separate 24-hour walkouts by Wizz Air Malta and Volotea flight crews add route-specific cancellations. Airports urge passengers to verify flight status directly with airlines and to allow extra time at the airport for document checks and baggage.

Latest developments

Minimum-service rules and guaranteed flights for the Italy air transport strike

ENAC confirms the legal protection windows from 700 to 1000 and from 1800 to 2100. Flights scheduled to depart within those bands must operate, as must specific lifeline links to islands named in ENAC's guaranteed-flights PDF. Outside those hours, carriers may proactively cancel or retime services, especially where crews or handlers are on 24-hour strike. Wizz Air Malta and Volotea have 24-hour crew walkouts, and ground handling stoppages nationwide run 1000-1400, which can ripple for hours after. Travelers should check ENAC's guaranteed list, then confirm with their airline's app or "manage booking" page to see if their flight is protected or rebooked. Security screening and baggage services may be slower even for protected flights.

Airport-specific advisories: Rome, Milan, Naples, Catania

Rome Fiumicino, Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO). No additional local work actions beyond the national strike were posted by Aeroporti di Roma as of September 25. Expect normal application of ENAC protected bands and potential cancellations outside them; monitor your carrier and arrive early.

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Milan Linate Airport (LIN). In addition to the national strike, SEA Milan shuttle and internal transport drivers are on a 24-hour strike, and Airport Handling workers plan a 1000-1400 stop. Cleaning staff and other vendors at Malpensa are also slated to pause in that window. Expect heavier disruption to turnarounds and baggage delivery.

Naples International Airport (NAP). GESAC has flagged the September 26 national 24-hour strike on its passenger pages. Follow your airline's instructions and anticipate delays at check-in and baggage during the 1000-1400 handling stoppage.

Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA). ENAC's guaranteed list includes specific lifeline services touching Catania; otherwise, the airport expects standard national-strike constraints and urges passengers to check flight status and arrive early. Local coverage reiterates the protected 700-1000 and 1800-2100 windows.

Analysis

Operationally, the four-hour handling pause from 1000-1400 is the day's critical choke point. Even where flights are legally protected, ground operations in that window will be constrained, pushing departures later and creating aircraft and crew dislocations that spill into late afternoon. Milan's added 24-hour SEA driver action compounds landside bottlenecks for buses, equipment moves, and staff transfers at both Linate and Malpensa, so expect slower recoveries. Rome should see fewer local constraints, but national-level cancellations will still thin schedules outside the protected bands. Naples and Catania will mirror the national pattern, with added sensitivity to baggage flows and island connectivity requirements. For travelers, the smart play is to move to flights inside the protected windows or overnight banks where possible, travel with carry-on only, and accept longer lines at bag drop and security. Airlines typically issue free same-day changes to protected departures when inventory allows, but midday seats will be scarce.

How to verify if your flight is protected. Step 1: Check ENAC's guaranteed-flights notice and time-band rules. Step 2: In your airline app, compare your departure time to 700-1000 or 1800-2100. Step 3: If outside those bands, look for a proactive change or cancellation notice and use the rebooking link. Step 4: If your itinerary includes island links listed by ENAC, those are protected even outside the bands.

Remedies for ticket changes. If your flight is canceled or retimed, airlines will offer a free change or refund; some also provide meal vouchers and hotels if overnighting is required. Volotea states free change or refund in cancellations or 5-hour delays, plus care (meals, hotel if needed). Wizz Air has warned of potential disruption and will message affected customers with options in "My Bookings." ITA Airways changes and refunds can be processed online for 055-prefix tickets, subject to fare rules or disruption waivers.

Related reading: for broader context on airline labor actions and rebooking strategies, see our coverage of the Lufthansa pilot strike ballot.

Final thoughts

To reduce risk during the Italy air transport strike, aim for departures in the 700-1000 or 1800-2100 bands, go carry-on if possible, and monitor your airline app for rebooking links. Milan's extra stoppages will slow ground operations all day; Rome, Naples, and Catania should follow national patterns with ENAC-protected services operating as scheduled. If you must travel outside the protected bands, consider moving your itinerary proactively. Keep copies of notifications and receipts to claim care or refunds later, and double-check ENAC's list if you suspect your flight is in the protected category during the Italy air transport strike.