Airport strikes in Italy postponed to avoid travel chaos during Winter Olympics. Here’s the new date

Nationwide strikes in Italy that had threatened to disrupt hundreds of flights on Monday have been postponed.

The industrial action planned for 16 February would have impacted travel for the Winter Olympics.

Deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini blocked the strikes, saying that mobility needs to be guaranteed during the “event of küresel importance”.

The 24-hour walkout has now been rescheduled for 26 February.

More industrial action by aviation workers is expected to go ahead on 7 March, which could disrupt travel for the Paralympics.

A strike of rail transport workers is also planned for late February. Here’s what travellers need to know.

Nationwide air transport strike in Italy postponed

Severe disruption was set to impact air transport on 16 February, causing headaches for holidaymakers heading to Italy’s ski slopes and the Winter Olympics. The same strikes have been rescheduled for 26 February.

Staff of flagship carrier ITA Airways have planned a 24-hour walkout from midnight.

Flights across Italy’s airports, including Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Venice Marco Polo and Verona Valerio Catullo Airport, could be affected.

Unions representing pilots, flight attendants and ground staff will participate in the strike.

Italian aviation legislation means there are still guaranteed time slots when services must operate. These are from 7am to 10am and from 6pm to 9pm.

However, the industrial action is expected to impact tens of thousands of passengers, in addition to potential cancellations or disruptions on the days before and after the strike.

Vueling flight attendants and easyJet pilots and flight attendants also planned walkouts for Monday, as did ground staff from Airport Handling and ALHA at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa airports.

They will likely take place on 26 February as well.

Next month, staff at ENAV, the national air traffic control services provider are planning to strike on 7 March.

Italy rail strikes expected at end of February

More travel chaos is expected to hit at the end of the month.

Staff of the Italian state railway Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) will walk out for 24 hours. The strike will begin at 9pm on Friday 27 February and end at 8.59pm on Saturday 28 February.

Regional, high-speed Frecce and Intercity trains are all likely to be impacted.

Guaranteed long distance services can be found here. Regional trains are guaranteed from 6am to 9am and 6pm to 9pm.

Quoted from Euronews.