Italy air transport strike on October 29, what to expect
Key points
- 24-hour Italy air transport strike set for Oct 29
- ENAC windows protect 7-10 a.m., 6-9 p.m.
- Extra walkouts at Milan, Pisa, Florence handling
- Build itineraries now, favor protected bands
- Expect slower check-in, delayed bags, day-of cancels
Impact
- Airports
- Plan staffing and slot programs around ENAC windows and local handling strikes.
- Flights
- Favor departures 7-10 a.m., 6-9 p.m.; retime vulnerable turns outside bands.
- Travelers
- Shift to early or late flights, travel carry-on, pad connections in Milan and Tuscany.
- Outlook
- Union actions span national scope and local handlers; schedule trims likely if rosters thin.
A 24-hour national air transport strike is scheduled in Italy on Wednesday, October 29. Multiple unions have filed notices covering airport and airline support roles, alongside company-specific walkouts that target key handling firms. Italy's civil aviation authority, ENAC, confirms the standard protected windows for strikes, which keep early-morning and early-evening departures operating. Travelers should build itineraries now around those windows, expect slower ground operations, and watch for proactive schedule changes as airlines balance minimum-service rules with staffing gaps.
Italy air transport strike, Oct 29
The national action is filed for 1200 a.m. to 1159 p.m. on October 29. Separate notices indicate local handling stoppages in Milan and Tuscany on the same date. ENAC's minimum-service regime requires airlines to operate scheduled departures during the protected windows of 700 to 1000 and 1800 to 2100 local time. Outside those bands, carriers can thin schedules, consolidate flights, or cancel if rosters fall short, though essential island lifeline services are typically preserved by ENAC's guaranteed-flights list.
Likely affected airports include Rome Fiumicino, formally Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), and Rome Ciampino (CIA), plus Milan Linate (LIN) and Milan Malpensa (MXP), where Airport Handling, Swissport Italia, ALHA, and MLE notices point to all-day exposure. Tuscany's Pisa International Airport (PSA) and Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) face local handler action via Consulta. Other busy gateways that often feel ripple delays include Venice Marco Polo (VCE), Naples International (NAP), Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ), Turin Caselle (TRN), Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (PMO), Catania Fontanarossa (CTA), Bari Karol Wojtyła (BRI), and Cagliari Elmas (CAG).
Latest developments
Unions representing ground and handling staff, including FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, UIL-Trasporti, UGL-TA, USB Lavoro Privato, CUB Trasporti, and FLAI Trasporti e Servizi, have posted or been cited in notices for the October 29 action. Local filings call out Milan handling providers and Tuscany airport handlers. A separate notice references Vueling personnel on October 29. ENAC reiterates that the 700-1000 and 1800-2100 bands are protected, which is consistent across recent national air-sector strikes.
Analysis
For itinerary building, favor departures inside ENAC's protected windows. Morning banks between 700 and 1000, then evening banks between 1800 and 2100, carry the highest likelihood of operating. If you must travel outside those bands, choose nonstop itineraries, avoid tight connections, and travel carry-on to bypass delayed baggage systems. In Milan and Tuscany, allow extra time at check-in and at baggage claim due to handling staff exposure. If your flight is retimed into a protected band, accept the change to preserve trip certainty. For long-haul returns via Italy, consider shifting transits to airports less exposed to the declared handling firms, or route through hubs with stronger protected-band inventory.
Final thoughts
The Italy air transport strike on October 29 will test schedules across the network, especially at Milan and Tuscany airports where handling walkouts overlap the national action. Anchor plans to ENAC's protected bands, move checked bags to carry-on if possible, and lock in earlier flights now to reduce day-of surprises.