Italy October strikes: air, rail, and local transport

Published on Oct 11, 2025, 1:00 pm CDT

6 min read

Italy faces a fresh round of mid to late October walkouts across air travel, national rail maintenance, and city transit. Travelers should plan around protected time bands that keep some services running, verify airport ground-handling actions in Rome, Milan, Pisa, and Florence, and build extra time for connections. Below is a date-ordered calendar highlighting sectors, cities, and what is guaranteed to run. Remedies under EU261 are summarized at the end.

Key points

Why it matters: Multiple strikes could disrupt flights, long-distance trains, and local transit on key October dates.
Travel impact: ADR's Rome airports face a 4-hour action, with additional 24-hour ground-handling strikes later in the month.
What's next: Further rail maintenance actions are scheduled for October 21, with more local walkouts across regions.
ENAC guarantees certain flight windows during air strikes, and Trenitalia lists minimum rail services.
EU261 provides refunds, rerouting, care, and possible compensation after cancellations or long delays.

Snapshot

Protected time bands help soften disruption, but bottlenecks are likely. For flights, ENAC's guaranteed windows typically keep operations running from 700 to 1000 and from 1800 to 2100 during air-sector strikes. Rome's airports will also see a separate Aeroporti di Roma action confined to midday hours. On rail, minimum services apply on weekdays in the morning and evening peaks, and trains already underway may continue to a logical stop even after a strike begins. Local transport walkouts are staggered across cities such as Naples, Genoa, Monza, Trezzo sull'Adda, Catania, Bari, and Bergamo. Always check your specific flight or train number the day before departure, and allow generous buffer time for any airport transfer that crosses a city system facing a same-day walkout.

Background

Italy's autumn strike wave began with early October national actions that affected rail and pockets of air travel, followed by Rome's 24-hour local transit stoppage on October 10. The official calendars maintained by the transport ministry and the strikes-guarantee authorities continue to add sector-specific actions, including airport ground handling and rail maintenance units. Several outlets have consolidated mid to late October dates, and first-party notices define what must still operate, including ENAC's flight protection bands and Trenitalia's minimum services. Travelers should also watch for airport-specific advisories, especially from Aeroporti di Roma.

Latest developments

October 13, air transport, Rome area focus

A four-hour airport staff strike is set for Monday, October 13, affecting Aeroporti di Roma operations at Rome Fiumicino, formally Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), and Rome Ciampino (CIA), typically from 1200 to 1600 local time. ENAC notes that during national air-sector strikes, flights scheduled 700 to 1000 and 1800 to 2100 are guaranteed, which can help early or evening departures. Expect cancellations or retimes around the midday window, possible knock-on delays, and longer lines for assistance. Rebook online where possible.

October 13-21, local transport, multiple cities

The week beginning October 13 includes staggered city walkouts, including Naples local rail and bus segments on October 13, plus additional municipal actions over October 16-21 in cities such as Genoa, Monza and Trezzo sull'Adda, Bari, and Bergamo. These affect metro, tram, and bus operations with varying durations, commonly four to twenty-four hours. If you have an airport transfer, pad your schedule and consider point-to-point taxis where legal strike exemptions allow limited operations.

October 18, local transport, Catania

Catania's AMTS personnel are scheduled for a 24-hour walkout on Saturday, October 18. Expect reduced bus frequencies and gaps in service across the city, which can affect transfers to and from the central station or to regional buses that connect with flights at nearby airports.

October 21, national rail maintenance

Rail maintenance workers at RFI installations are slated to strike for 24 hours on Tuesday, October 21. While this is not a full passenger-train shutdown, impacts can include infrastructure-related delays and select cancellations. Morning and evening peak protections may not apply uniformly to maintenance categories, so monitor operator advisories closely.

October 29, air transport ground handling, Milan, Pisa, Florence

A 24-hour ground-handling stoppage is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, targeting Milan Linate, plus Pisa and Florence airports. Expect check-in, baggage, and ramp disruptions that can cascade into cancellations. Plan extra time, travel with carry-on when feasible, and watch for airline rebooking waivers. The affected airports are Milan Linate Airport (LIN), Pisa International Airport, Galileo Galilei (PSA), and Florence Airport, Amerigo Vespucci (FLR).

Analysis

The mid to late October pattern concentrates risk around two flight-heavy dates and a maintenance-focused rail action, with localized transit stoppages adding friction for airport access. For flyers, October 13 in Rome should be manageable if you avoid the 1200 to 1600 window. ENAC's guaranteed time bands protect early morning and evening operations, yet airlines may still thin schedules to match reduced ground capacity. Build buffers around connections involving Schengen exit controls or checked baggage. On October 29, the 24-hour scope across Linate, Pisa, and Florence will likely produce more cancellations than short window actions, since ground handling is core to turnarounds. Rail impacts on October 21 hinge on how infrastructure work stoppages ripple into operations; long-distance services may face isolated slowdowns rather than mass cancellations, but regional lines can feel more pronounced effects. City walkouts complicate transfers, so travelers should pre-book private transport where permissible, or shift to earlier trains that fall inside guaranteed bands. Finally, know your EU261 rights, which ensure refunds or rerouting and care, and potentially compensation when legal thresholds are met.

Final thoughts

October travel in Italy remains doable with planning. Prioritize early or late flights on October 13 in Rome, consider carry-on only for October 29 at Linate, Pisa, and Florence, and check RFI maintenance advisories before October 21 rail trips. Leave extra time for airport transfers on local strike days, and bookmark the EU261 resources below for refunds, rerouting, and care. With buffers and verified schedules, you can navigate Italy's October strikes without derailing your plans. Italy October strikes.