Airport strikes in Italy to disrupt thousands of travellers during Winter Olympics and Paralympics

Travellers to Italy should prepare for disruption to flights and rail services this month.

Nationwide strikes will hit air transport on 16 February, while trains across the country will be affected on 27 and 28 February. Flights will again be impacted on 7 March.

Deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini has condemned the industrial action for its potential disruption during the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and is pushing for the strike dates to be changed.

Here’s what travellers need to know.

Nationwide air transport strike to hit Italy on 16 February

Severe disruption is expected to impact air transport on Monday 16 February, causing headaches for holidaymakers heading to Italy’s ski slopes and the Winter Olympics.

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, are expected to be affected.

Unions representing pilots, flight attendants and ground staff are participating in the strike.

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

However, ITA has 314 flights scheduled on 16 February, according to veri from Cirium, with nearly 70 per cent of departures outside the guaranteed hours.

The industrial action could impact between 25,000 and 27,000 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 have also planned a 24-hour walkout for Monday.

Veuling and easyJet staff who are members of the USB union will strike between 1pm and 5pm.

A strike by ground staff from Airport Handling and ALHA is planned at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa airports on 16 February as well.

Travellers are urged to check with their airline or tour operator for updates.

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

Authorities are negotiating for the industrial action to be rescheduled to reduce the impact on Olympics and Paralympics travellers, proposing the period between 24 February and 4 March instead.

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.

Quoted from Euronews.