If you are flying to or from Italy on Friday, be prepared for delays and cancellations. Airport strikes have disrupted thousands of domestic and international flights across the country.
The nationwide 24-hour strike, which will see passageways through control towers and ground control handling services, has forced ITA Airways cancel at least 200 flights.
More airlines are prepared to follow, including easyJet:
Like most airlines operating to and from Italy, we may see our flight program disrupted on this day. We advise customers traveling to, from or within Italy on Friday, October 21 to gain more travel time to and from the airport and check the status of their flight.
If any flight is cancelled, we will contact the customer via email and SMS using the details provided at the time of booking and check-in. For canceled flights only, we advise customers not to go to the airport but for a free flight transfer or a refund.
While this is beyond our control, we want to reassure our customers that we are doing all we can to minimize any disruption that may result from the warning action.
Related: Important dates when travel will be disrupted in the coming months
The strike was triggered by a fight over wages and working conditions among members of the national air traffic control company Ente Nazionale per l’Assistenza al Volo, which plays a key role in keeping for the smooth operation of Italian airports.
The latest strike is aimed at the European transport sector this year, it comes after a a similar 24-hour walk by air traffic controllers in France in mid-September when major airlines were forced to halve their schedules.
If you’re looking for good omens from that roam, although Air France put the kibosh on about 400 of its 800 flights, plenty of planes managed to reach France on the day of the strike. Also, according to comments from easyJet, it appears that airlines are hoping that many operations will continue in one form or another.
If you plan to fly to or from Italy in the coming days, be sure to contact your airline as soon as possible to make sure you won’t have a problem.
If your trip is affected over the weekend, here’s what you need to know:
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What if my flight is affected by strike action?
In 2012, the European Court of Justice ruled that airlines must compensate passengers if they are denied boarding because of a post-strike strike.
In other words, if the strike takes place on Monday, but your Tuesday flight is delayed or canceled due to a domino effect, you are still entitled to compensation, as well as a refund or an alternative flight. .
How much compensation am I?
Under current European Union regulations, you could be entitled to between 250-600 euros (about $247-$584), depending on the length of the delay and the distance traveled.
If your flight is delayed long enough, your airline must also provide you with:
- Food and drink.
- Access to phone calls and emails.
- Accommodation if you are delayed overnight, as well as the journey between the airport and the hotel.
Read this guide for more information on strike-related compensation for canceled flights.
