Holidaymakers flying to Italy next month have been warned of potential disruption on Monday, May 11, as a series of strikes are set to hit airports across the country. Italian media report that the day could become a 'black day' for air travel, with regional strikes coinciding with a national walkout by easyJet staff.
According to Il Sole 24 Ore, the strikes will involve employees of airport service and security companies in Cagliari, Enav in Rome and Naples, Adr Security in Fiumicino, and handling companies in Palermo. The easyJet strike, involving pilots and cabin crew, will run from 10am to 6pm. A separate bulletin from travel management firm Cisalpina Tours International confirmed an eight-hour strike by staff at ENAV's Rome air traffic control centre on the same day.
British travel content creator Kate Donnelly (@Thedonnellyedit) posted on TikTok that the strikes will likely cause flight delays and cancellations, which could be announced at the last minute. She urged passengers to keep checking their flight schedules and enable notifications for updates. Donnelly also highlighted further strike action on Friday, May 29, which will affect public services including rail and road networks across Italy.
If a flight is cancelled, passengers are entitled to a replacement flight or full refund under EU/UK regulations. Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert team advises that passengers should be offered an alternative flight at the earliest opportunity, which may be with a different airline. However, compensation may not be payable if the delay is caused by 'extraordinary circumstances' such as strikes by air traffic controllers or airport staff. Strikes by airline staff, such as easyJet's pilots and cabin crew, may give passengers grounds to claim additional compensation.
