Italy November Strikes, ATC Nov 14, Rail Nov 27 to 28

Published on Nov 10, 2025, 8:20 am CST

5 min read

Key points

Air traffic control will stop nationwide on November 14 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. CET
Volotea staff plan a 24 hour strike on November 14 and easyJet Italy flying crew will stop from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Italy's rail network faces a 24 hour national strike from 9:00 p.m. November 27 to 9:00 p.m. November 28 with limited guaranteed services
Flights scheduled 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. are protected during aviation strikes
Regional trains have guaranteed bands 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on strike days

Impact

ATC Strike Window: Friday, November 14, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. CET, nationwide ENAV scope including Rome and Milan FIRs
Flights In Protected Bands: Flights scheduled 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. local are expected to operate
Airlines Affected: Volotea 24 hours nationwide November 14, easyJet Italy flying crew 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Rail Strike Window: 9:00 p.m. Thursday, November 27 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, November 28 with minimum services
What To Do Now: Avoid tight connections at Rome, Milan, Naples, Venice, verify status, consider earlier departures or alternate modes

Italy's November industrial calendar now pairs the previously announced air traffic control stoppage with new airline and rail actions that will strain flows through the end of the month. Air traffic control staff are set to stop nationwide on Friday, November 14, from 100 to 500 p.m. CET. On the same day, Volotea staff plan a 24 hour strike, and easyJet Italy flying crew will stop from 100 to 500 p.m. A separate 24 hour national rail strike runs from 900 p.m. Thursday, November 27, to 900 p.m. Friday, November 28, with limited guaranteed services. Travelers should avoid tight connections around Rome, Milan, Naples, and Venice, and build conservative buffers on airport links. This is an update to our November 7 advisory with added rail dates and consolidated airline scopes. Sources include Italy's transport ministry strike calendar, airport notices, and carrier labor filings.

Italy's November 14 aviation picture

ENAV, Italy's air navigation service provider, is covered by a four hour nationwide stoppage called by the ASTRA union from 100 to 500 p.m. CET. National outlets note the strike's scope as countrywide, which implies potential flow management programs at both Rome and Milan area control centers and their dependent towers. Expect targeted cancellations, metered departures, and arrival spacing during the window, even if weather is benign.

Minimum service rules shape the day. Italy protects flights scheduled in two bands, 700 to 1000 a.m. and 600 to 900 p.m., which should operate even during strikes, although rerouting and timing adjustments remain possible. Bookings outside those bands are more exposed to disruption. If you must connect domestically the afternoon of November 14, move to a morning protected band or the evening protected band to reduce risk.

Two airline labor actions overlap the ATC stoppage. Volotea staff are slated to strike for 24 hours on November 14, which the Naples airport has flagged to passengers. easyJet Italy flying crew will stop from 100 to 500 p.m., matching the ATC window. Both actions are listed on the transport ministry strike calendar. Flyers on Volotea should expect wider schedule thinning, while easyJet Italy exposure is concentrated in the afternoon window.

Operationally, anticipate rolling knock-ons. Ground delay programs or miles-in-trail caps can persist after 5:00 p.m. while rotations recover. Crewing rules and slot availability will determine how quickly individual carriers normalize. If you hold separate tickets, protect yourself by widening your layover or consolidating onto one carrier.

Rail, November 27 to 28, minimum services, and remedies

Italy's rail unions have called a national 24 hour strike from 900 p.m. Thursday, November 27, to 900 p.m. Friday, November 28. During rail strikes on weekdays, regional networks must honor essential service bands, typically 600 to 900 a.m. and 600 to 900 p.m. Long distance operations are thinned but some services are guaranteed, and operators publish lists in advance. Trenitalia's policy page explains essential services and refund or rebooking options when a booked train is canceled for strike action. If you are on Italo, watch the operator's "Italo News" feed for schedule changes and acceptance rules on alternative services.

Plan for the rail strike to degrade airport access, especially for Rome Fiumicino's Leonardo Express and Milan Malpensa's rail links. Where possible, shift airport transfers into the morning or evening guaranteed bands. If you rely on regional trains to bridge to high speed services, pad at least one full departure in case a feeder leg is suppressed.

Airports and FIRs in scope

Because the ENAV action is national, both Rome and Milan FIRs are implicated, along with towers at key airports, including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice Marco Polo, and Naples International. Even airports with lighter schedules can see flow caps if their sectors depend on en route constraints. The ministry registry and national media coverage confirm the nationwide framing.

Minimum service rules, summarized

For flights, Italy's protected bands are 700 to 1000 a.m. and 600 to 900 p.m. local. For trains, essential services on weekdays are guaranteed 600 to 900 a.m. and 600 to 900 p.m., and operators publish guaranteed long distance trains and remedies. These protections reduce, but do not eliminate, the chance of disruption. Treat any connection that crosses the midday aviation strike window or the mid-day rail period as higher risk.

Practical playbook

If you are booked on November 14, move your departure into a protected flight band or the late evening if possible. Volotea customers should recheck email and app notifications for waivers or free moves to adjacent days. easyJet Italy travelers, especially on afternoon departures, should consider an earlier flight within the morning protection or an evening option after 6:00 p.m. For the rail strike, shift nonessential travel to Saturday, November 29, or travel inside the morning or evening guaranteed windows on Friday. If you must connect airport rail to flight on November 28, add at least one hour beyond your normal buffer and have a taxi or coach fallback.

Final thoughts

Italy's November strikes now cover air traffic control, airline crews, and rail, with the most acute risk centered on November 14 for flights, and the evening of November 27 through the evening of November 28 for trains. Use protected time bands, move nonessential travel, and keep airline and rail apps handy. This article will be updated if scopes change.