EasyJet passengers flying to or from Italy on Sunday, July 5, face the risk of delays and cancellations due to a 24-hour strike by pilots and cabin crew. The strike, called by multiple unions including FILTCGIL, FITCISL, UILTUIL, UGL Trasporto Aereo, and ANPAC, will last from midnight to midnight, affecting all EasyJet flights to and from Italian airports.
Travel Expert Advises Monitoring Communications
Travel expert Kate Donnelly (@Thedonnellyedit) has reminded passengers to monitor their inboxes and app notifications closely, as the situation could change at short notice. She said: "If you're travelling to Italy on July 5, you may well already be aware that multiple strikes are set to take place involving air traffic control and ground handling staff. But, now another one has been added to the calendar."
Airline-Specific Strike Affects All Italian Flights
According to the Strike Tracker website, the strike is airline-specific, meaning it "won't matter which airport you are arriving or departing from." Any flight booked through EasyJet could potentially be affected. Kate Donnelly added: "If you are on an EasyJet flight, it could be impacted on this date. With this particular strike action, there is obviously the risk of delays, but also a higher risk of flight cancellations."
Compensation Entitlements
If EasyJet cancels or reschedules a flight due to the strike by its own Italian pilots or cabin crew, passengers are legally entitled to compensation, as internal staff strikes are not considered extraordinary circumstances. However, if the disruption is caused by air traffic control closures or airport baggage handler strikes, it is deemed an extraordinary circumstance, entitling passengers to a refund or rebooking but no additional compensation.
Even when the airline is not at fault, EasyJet is legally obliged to provide care, including free food and drink vouchers, free hotel accommodation, and free transport between the hotel and airport for stranded passengers. To claim compensation or expenses, passengers must submit a claim through the official EasyJet Compensation Claims Portal or Expense Claim Form, providing their booking reference and exact flight number.
