Hundreds of Travellers Stranded at Airports of Milan, Naples, Bergamo, Rome and more in Italy as 168 Flights are Delayed and 67 Cancelled amid Nationwide Transport Strikes, Disrupting easyJet, ITA Airways, Ryanair, Wizz Air Malta and Several other Carriers, New Update

Hundreds of travellers are currently facing a logistical nightmare across Italy as a massive transport strike halts the nation’s aviation network. Major hubs in Milan, Rome and Naples report a staggering number of grounded flights and mounting delays. Ground crews and airport staff joined forces today, triggering a wave of disruption that ripples through every major terminal. The impact is particularly severe for passengers flying with easyJet, ITA Airways and Ryanair. These carriers have been forced to scrap dozens of departures, leaving holidaymakers stranded from Bergamo to the coastal gateways of Palermo and Catania. There’s a total of 168 delays and 67 flight cancellations reported. Consequently, departure boards are flashing red while terminal concourses fill with frustrated passengers. Furthermore, the industrial action has effectively severed vital air links during a critical travel period. Travellers must now navigate a complex web of cancellations as the strike continues to paralyse the country. This developing situation demands immediate attention from anyone scheduled to fly through the Italian peninsula today.

Major Airports Affected

The disruption has been most acutely felt in Northern Italy, particularly at Milan Malpensa International Airport. As the primary long-haul gateway for the region, Malpensa recorded the highest volume of disruptions, with 29 total cancellations and 57 delays. The atmosphere at the terminal was reported as one of mounting frustration as passengers faced a lack of available alternatives for onward travel.

Further south, the capital’s main hub, Leonardo da Vinci International (Fiumicino) in Rome, has also seen its operations hampered. While cancellations at Fiumicino were kept to a modest 6, the ripple effect of the national strike resulted in a staggering 50 delayed flights. This suggests that while planes were eventually allowed to depart, the efficiency of ground handling and air traffic control coordination was severely compromised.

In the Campania region, Naples International (Capodichino) emerged as a major flashpoint for the easyJet network. The airport saw 13 cancellations and 15 delays, effectively halting the plans of those travelling to the Amalfi Coast or the islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Similarly, in the Lombardy region, Orio al Serio International near Bergamo reported 8 cancellations and 18 delays, largely affecting low-cost carriers that utilise the airport as a strategic base for European routes.

The southern islands were not spared from the industrial action either. In Sicily, both Palermo International (Punta Raisi) and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport experienced significant setbacks. Palermo saw 4 cancellations and 9 delays, while Catania reported 3 cancellations and 7 delays. These figures, though lower in volume than those in Milan, are significant given the reliance on air travel for island connectivity. Finally, Milan’s secondary city hub, Linate, saw 4 cancellations and 12 delays, further tightening the travel squeeze in the north of Italy.

Impacted Airlines

The strike has disproportionately affected specific carriers, with easyJet bearing the brunt of the cancellations.

Airline	Total Cancellations	Total Delays
easyJet	40	13
ITA Airways	5	10
Ryanair	6	19
Wizz Air Malta	4	2
SAS	3	0
Iberia	3	0
Air France	2	1
Helvetic	2	0
Pegasus Airlines	2	2
Wizz Air	2	1

Across the seven major airports monitored, easyJet saw a total of 40 flights grounded. The airline was particularly hit in Milan Malpensa (15 cancellations) and Naples (13 cancellations). For a carrier that prides itself on point-to-point efficiency, the sheer volume of grounded aircraft has created a massive backlog in their flight scheduling.

ITA Airways, the Italian national flag carrier, has also been at the centre of the storm. It was reported that approximately 55 per cent of its scheduled flights for the day were cancelled nationwide. Specifically, at Rome Fiumicino and Linate, the airline struggled to maintain its timetable, resulting in 5 cancellations and a high number of delays as ground staff participated in the coordinated walkout.

Other carriers have faced varying degrees of disruption:

• Ryanair: Reported 6 cancellations and 19 delays, with the majority of the impact felt in Milan and Palermo.
• Wizz Air & Wizz Air Malta: Combined for 6 cancellations and 3 delays, primarily affecting operations in Bergamo.
• International Carriers: SAS and Iberia each saw 3 cancellations in Milan, while Air France and Helvetic also reported minor groundings. Pegasus Airlines faced disruptions at Orio al Serio with 2 cancellations and 2 delays.

The involvement of ground crews and airport staff means that even airlines not directly involved in the labour dispute have seen their turnaround times inflated, leading to the high number of recorded delays across all terminals.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The timing of this nationwide strike at the end of February has a direct impact on the tourism ecosystems of Italy’s most iconic cities. In Milan, a global hub for fashion and business, the grounding of 29 flights at Malpensa and 4 at Linate likely resulted in thousands of lost hotel bed-nights and the cancellation of high-value business meetings.

In Rome, the 50 delays at Fiumicino have left tourists stranded in transit rather than exploring the historic centre, placing additional strain on airport facilities and local transport services. For Naples, the strike effectively severed the primary artery for international visitors arriving for late-winter breaks, likely impacting local hospitality providers who rely on the steady flow of passengers from Capodichino.

The situation in Palermo and Catania is perhaps the most concerning for local tourism officials. As island destinations, there are few alternatives to air travel. The disruption in these Sicilian hubs prevents the departure of departing tourists and the arrival of new visitors, leading to a temporary but sharp decline in footfall for local attractions and dining establishments. The “ripple effect” mentioned by aviation experts suggests that even after the strike concludes, the reputational damage to Italy as a reliable travel destination during periods of industrial unrest may persist.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently caught in the chaos at airports in Milan, Naples, Bergamo, Rome, Palermo or Catania, certain protocols should be followed to mitigate the impact of the strike.

1. Direct Communication: Passengers are advised to maintain constant contact with their airline’s mobile app or official website. Since ITA Airways and easyJet have different policies regarding rebooking during strikes, getting official confirmation of a flight’s status is the first priority.
2. Claiming Assistance: Under international aviation regulations applicable in Italy, passengers whose flights are cancelled or significantly delayed are often entitled to “duty of care” assistance. This includes food vouchers and in cases of overnight delays, hotel accommodation and transport.
3. Documentation: It is recommended that all travellers keep receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the disruption. While strikes are often classified as extraordinary circumstances, having a clear paper trail is essential for any future insurance claims.
4. Alternative Transport: Given that the strike action is described as nationwide and potentially affecting rail services as well, passengers should exercise caution before attempting to switch to train travel without first confirming the status of the Italian rail network.

As the day progresses, the focus remains on the negotiation between transport unions and the aviation authorities. Until a resolution is reached, the skies over Italy remain quiet, while the terminals remain crowded with those waiting for their journey to resume.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.

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