Dozens of flights to and from Italy, including many easyJet services, have been cancelled or delayed due to “anomalies” with air traffic control services. The disruption is affecting airports across the peninsula, including Italy’s largest – Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa.
Capacity reduced by 50 per cent
ENAV, the Italian air navigation service provider, said issues were identified last night and air traffic management capacity is currently reduced by 50 per cent. The agency’s latest statement reads: “ENAV announces that, despite the anomalies encountered on the data transmission network, the maximum number of departures possible was guaranteed this morning, including intercontinental flights. To achieve this, ENAV is using alternative data transmission systems.”
“ENAV is deploying all available resources to minimise disruption and restore full operations as soon as possible. ENAV currently maintains an operational capacity of 50 per cent of total air traffic, ensuring maximum safety at all times, which remains the company’s top priority.”
Operations reduced from 6am
Earlier today, ENAV said regular air traffic management was “guaranteed” until 6am thanks to contingency systems being put in place. From 6am, “given the progressive increase in air traffic and the persistence of anomalies”, operations over the Italian airspace had to be reduced.
ENAV has ruled out the possibility of a cyber attack being linked to the issue. It said: “Technical checks, still ongoing, have identified the source of the anomalies in the data transmission network. ENAV is working to identify the causes and restore full system operation. It is excluded that the anomalies are attributable to malicious activity.”
Airports and flights affected
Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino, Bergamo, Turin, Bologna, Naples and Salerno are all disrupted, among others. At Fiumicino, cancelled departures today and this afternoon include Munich, Malaga, Malta, Valencia and Amsterdam. This includes some easyJet services, including a cancelled flight to Lyon in France. Flights to London, Manchester and Birmingham have been delayed.
Arrivals are also affected, with many flights delayed and a few cancelled. Flights to London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester this morning landed safely, but with delays. At Malpensa, a number of easyJet flights departing from Milan have been cancelled, including to Sicily, Frankfurt, Copenhagen and Athens.
A warning from the airport reads: “Please be advised that, due to technical issues affecting air traffic control systems nationwide, flight delays and cancellations may occur at Milano Linate and Malpensa airports. Passengers are kindly advised to contact their airline for the latest information regarding their flight.” Arrivals from London, Manchester and Edinburgh have been delayed.
Significant disruption has also affected passengers at Turin Airport, where at least 10 flights have been cancelled. Dozens of flights at Bologna Airport have also been delayed.
