Milan Linate strike Oct. 29: Protected flights and tips

Published on Oct 22, 2025, 9:19 am CDTUpdated on Oct 22, 2025, 9:29 am CDT

3 min read

Key points

Linate ground handling staff to strike for 24 hours on October 29.
ENAC protection windows are 7-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. local.
Expect baggage delays and thinner schedules outside protection windows.
Carry-on only advised; arrive early for flights in protected windows.
Nearby alternates include Milan Malpensa and Milan Bergamo.

Impact

What Changed: A 24-hour walkout by ground-handling staff is scheduled at Milan Linate on October 29.
Why It Matters: Baggage, check-in, and turnarounds may slow, thinning schedules outside protection windows and triggering rebooks.
Dates: Wednesday, October 29, 2025; ENAC protection windows 7:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00 (CET).
What To Do: Use carry-on only, monitor your airline app, and consider Milan Malpensa or Milan Bergamo alternates.

Ground-handling staff at Milan Linate Airport (LIN) plan a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, October 29. Italy's civil aviation authority, ENAC, will enforce "fasce di garanzia," the protection windows from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m./0700-1000 and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m./1800-2100 local time (CET). Flights scheduled to depart in these windows should operate, while schedules outside them may thin, baggage delivery could lag, and airlines may proactively rebook travelers. The action affects check-in, ramp, and baggage services more than air traffic control.

Milan Linate, ground handling walkout

The action targets airport handling companies at Linate, notably Airport Handling and Swissport units that provide check-in, ramp, and baggage services for multiple carriers. ENAC's rules require full functionality during the two three-hour protection windows, then a reduced service level outside them. Expect airlines to prioritize peak-demand routes in those windows and consolidate or cancel some flights around midday and late evening.

Latest developments

Industry and travel-alert outlets flagged October 29 as a dedicated Milan handling strike day, separate from other October actions in Italy. Notices indicate the walkout will touch both Milan airports, with Linate the focus for ground services.

Analysis

Under ENAC's minimum-service regime, flights scheduled to depart during 700-1000 and 1800-2100 must operate, and international arrivals landing within 30 minutes of those periods are protected. Outside those windows, airports must still keep at least 20 percent of normal passenger-flow services running, which is why airlines often trim frequencies, upgauge aircraft, or move departures into the protected bands. Positioning flights that enable protected services, plus state, emergency, and humanitarian flights, are also safeguarded.

What is covered by minimum services. ENAC mandates: protected departures in the 700-1000 and 1800-2100 windows; international arrivals up to 30 minutes after those windows; necessary positioning flights; all intercontinental arrivals; at least half of scheduled intercontinental departures; and one daily round-trip to the islands per carrier. For airport services, passenger and baggage flows must run at no less than 20 percent outside the windows.

Impacted carriers at Linate. Airlines relying on Linate's ground handlers should plan for operational adjustments. Scheduled operators include ITA Airways, easyJet, Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Air France, KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Brussels Airlines, Aer Lingus, Austrian Airlines, Luxair, SAS, KM Malta Airlines, and others. If you are booked on any of these carriers from Linate on October 29, check your airline app for rebooking options.

Nearby alternates. If your plans are flexible, look for seats at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or at Il Caravaggio International Airport (BGY), commonly called Milan Bergamo. Both offer frequent domestic and European links and may provide more options if your Linate flight is canceled.

Final thoughts

The Milan Linate strike on October 29 will not shut the airport, but it will squeeze operations outside ENAC's protected windows. Book carry-on only, travel in the protected bands when possible, and consider Malpensa or Bergamo as alternates to keep your trip on track. This approach gives you the best odds of avoiding disruption from the Milan Linate strike.