Italy Aviation Strikes โ€” June 13 & July 5, 2026: easyJet 18-Hour National Walkout, ENAV Verona & Cagliari ATC, Milan ACC 24-Hour Strike, ADR Security Rome โ€” Every Airport Risk-Rated โ€” Protected Slots โ€” What to Do RIGHT NOW If You’re Booked โ€” Complete EU261, UK261 & Survival Guide for UK & European Summer Holiday Travellers

Published on : 06 Jun 2026

Italy Aviation Strikes โ€” June 13 & July 5, 2026: easyJet 18-Hour National Walkout, ENAV Verona & Cagliari ATC, Milan ACC 24-Hour Strike, ADR Security Rome โ€” Every Airport Risk-Rated โ€” Protected Slots โ€” What to Do RIGHT NOW If You’re Booked โ€” Complete EU261, UK261 & Survival Guide for UK & European Summer Holiday Travellers

If you are flying to Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Palermo, Verona, Cagliari, or anywhere in Italy this summer โ€” you need to read this before you travel. Italy has two high-risk aviation strike dates ahead: June 13 and July 5. They are different in structure, different in scope, and each requires a different response from affected passengers.

Two distinct aviation disruptions affect Italian airports in June 2026. June 13 is a significant aviation day for two reasons: easyJet pilots and cabin crew across Italy are striking for 18 hours from 06:00 to 24:00 โ€” this is a national action affecting all easyJet routes to and from Italy. Simultaneously, ENAV air traffic controllers at Verona Airport are striking for 18 hours from 06:00 to 24:00.

July 5 carries the highest disruption risk of the month for international travellers. Unlike rail or road strikes, aviation stoppages affect your primary entry point into the country and can collapse onward connections, car rentals, and hotel bookings in a single chain reaction.

Italy has been Europe’s most strike-prone aviation country in 2026. Italy’s strike pattern in 2026 has been the most frequent and varied of any European country โ€” rotating through ATC actions, carrier-specific cabin crew walkouts, ground handler disputes, and general strikes, with confirmed dates running through June 26. The May 11 precedent is instructive: ITA Airways cancelled approximately 38% of its scheduled flights on May 11, 2026, as simultaneous 8-hour strikes by ENAV air traffic controllers and easyJet pilots and cabin crew shut down Italian airspace capacity.

June 13 and July 5 are the two most significant remaining Italy aviation strike dates of the summer. This is your complete guide to both โ€” airport by airport, airline by airline, with the protected slots you need to know and every right you hold.


Published: June 6, 2026 โ€” Saturday (7 days to June 13 strike ยท 29 days to July 5 strike)
Strike Date 1: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Strike 1 โ€” easyJet Italy: Pilots + cabin crew โ€” 18 hours โ€” 06:00โ€“24:00 โ€” all easyJet Italy routes
Strike 1 โ€” ENAV Verona: ATC controllers โ€” 18 hours โ€” 06:00โ€“24:00 โ€” Verona Villafranca Airport
Strike 1 โ€” ENAV Cagliari (Sardinia): Ground staff โ€” 18 hours โ€” 06:00โ€“24:00
Strike 1 โ€” Sky Service Milan Linate: Ground handling โ€” 4 hours โ€” 12:00โ€“16:00
Strike Date 2: Sunday, July 5, 2026
Strike 2 โ€” CUB Trasporti national: Ground handling, fuelling, baggage โ€” 24 hours โ€” 00:00โ€“23:59 โ€” ALL Italian airports
Strike 2 โ€” ENAV Milan ACC: ATC โ€” 24 hours โ€” Northern Italy airspace โ€” ALL overflying traffic affected
Strike 2 โ€” ENAV Milan Malpensa: Tower โ€” 24 hours + additional 13:00โ€“17:00
Strike 2 โ€” ADR Security Rome: Fiumicino + Ciampino โ€” 08 hours โ€” 10:00โ€“18:00
Protected slots (both dates): 07:00โ€“10:00 and 18:00โ€“21:00 Italian time
EU261 compensation: โœ… easyJet carrier strike โ€” up to โ‚ฌ600 | ATC strike โ€” duty of care only
UK261 compensation: โœ… Same framework โ€” up to ยฃ520


Italy’s 2026 Strike Pattern โ€” Why This Keeps Happening

Before covering the specific June 13 and July 5 actions in detail, it is worth understanding why Italy has become summer 2026’s highest-risk aviation country in Europe.

Italian ATC strikes recur two to three times annually, and the pattern is consistent: a 4โ€“8 hour window, protected slots preserved under Law 146/1990, cancellation rates ranging 15โ€“40% depending on strike duration and airline preparedness.

The causes are structural. Italian aviation workers โ€” across ATC, ground handling, and carrier cabin crew โ€” are engaged in long-running disputes over pay that has failed to keep pace with Italy’s cost of living increases since 2022. The post-pandemic recovery in Italian tourism has created record passenger volumes at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo, and Naples Capodichino โ€” without a commensurate increase in pay for the workers who service those record volumes.

The result is a cycle of strike action that Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport โ€” led by Minister Matteo Salvini โ€” has repeatedly attempted to block through precautionary injunctions. Those injunctions have been refused by the unions throughout 2026, and the strikes have proceeded.

On April 10, 2026, air traffic control strikes in Italy caused 464 cancellations and 713 delays across airlines including Ryanair, Wizz Air, Helvetic, and easyJet at airports including Rome, Milan, Venice, and Bologna. On May 11, 2026, simultaneous ATC and easyJet cabin crew and pilot strikes in Italy significantly disrupted air traffic, with ITA Airways cancelling approximately 38% of its flights. The April and May precedents establish the June risk profile clearly.

June 13 and July 5 follow the same pattern โ€” but the July 5 action is broader and more dangerous in scope than anything Italy has experienced since the pandemic.


JUNE 13 โ€” THE COMPLETE STRIKE BREAKDOWN

Strike 1 โ€” easyJet Italy: Pilots + Cabin Crew โ€” 18 Hours โ€” 06:00โ€“24:00

Pilots and flight attendants at easyJet will hold a nationwide 18-hour strike in Italy on June 13, 2026, from 06:00 to 24:00. Disruptions and cancellations are expected across easyJet’s Italian operations.

This is easyJet’s most significant Italy action of 2026 by duration โ€” 18 hours covers virtually the entire operating day. The May 11 easyJet strike ran 8 hours and cancelled 180 rotations. June 13’s 18-hour window will cancel significantly more, given the longer strike period and the fact that both departure and arrival cycles are covered.

What easyJet flies from Italy:

easyJet operates major Italian routes from multiple UK airports โ€” Bristol, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Belfast all have direct easyJet services to Italian cities. Routes include:

  • London Gatwick โ†’ Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  • London Gatwick โ†’ Milan Malpensa (MXP)
  • London Gatwick โ†’ Venice Marco Polo (VCE)
  • London Gatwick โ†’ Naples (NAP)
  • London Gatwick โ†’ Catania (CTA)
  • London Luton โ†’ Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  • London Luton โ†’ Milan Malpensa (MXP)
  • Manchester โ†’ Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  • Manchester โ†’ Milan Malpensa (MXP)
  • Bristol โ†’ Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  • Edinburgh โ†’ Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
  • Birmingham โ†’ Alicante (ALC) [not Italy but operates from Italian bases]

easyJet also operates extensively within Italy and on European hub connections โ€” Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, and Zurich all have easyJet services to Italian destinations that will be disrupted on June 13.

Which easyJet Italy flights will operate on June 13:

Flights between 7:00 and 10:00 and between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM are always protected from Italian strikes. All intercontinental arrivals, including transits through Italian airports, are guaranteed.

Time window easyJet status
06:00โ€“07:00 ๐Ÿ”ด Strike โ€” at risk
07:00โ€“10:00 ๐ŸŸข Protected โ€” operates
10:00โ€“18:00 ๐Ÿ”ด Strike โ€” likely cancelled
18:00โ€“21:00 ๐ŸŸข Protected โ€” operates
21:00โ€“24:00 ๐Ÿ”ด Strike โ€” at risk

If your easyJet flight to or from Italy on June 13 is scheduled within the protected windows (07:00โ€“10:00 Italian time for departures from Italy, 18:00โ€“21:00 Italian time for arrivals into Italy), there is a reasonable expectation it will operate โ€” though congestion-driven delays of 60โ€“90 minutes are likely even in protected slots.

If your easyJet Italy flight on June 13 is outside these windows: Expect a cancellation notification by June 11 (48 hours before the strike). Italian law requires airlines to notify affected passengers at least 48 hours in advance of strike-related cancellations.

Strike 2 โ€” ENAV Verona Airport: ATC โ€” 18 Hours โ€” 06:00โ€“24:00

ENAV staff at Verona Airport will stage an 18-hour walkout on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 06:00 to 24:00. Called by OSL UILT-UIL and FAST-CONFSAL-AV.

Verona Villafranca Airport (VRN) serves the Veneto region โ€” a major UK and European summer destination combining Lake Garda, Verona’s Roman amphitheatre, Vicenza, and the Dolomite foothills. The airport handles significant UK summer traffic from Ryanair, Jet2, and TUI.

An 18-hour ATC strike at Verona completely eliminates the airport’s operational capacity for most of the day. Unlike an easyJet strike (which only affects easyJet flights), an ENAV ATC strike at Verona affects every airline operating at VRN โ€” Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, Wizz Air, and all other carriers.

Airlines affected at VRN on June 13:

  • Ryanair (multiple UKโ€“Verona routes)
  • Jet2 (Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Birmingham โ†’ Verona)
  • TUI Fly UK (multiple UK charter services)
  • Wizz Air (multiple European routes)
  • Vueling (Barcelona โ†’ Verona)
  • Lufthansa Group regional (Frankfurt, Munich โ†’ Verona)

What this means for UK package holidaymakers flying to Lake Garda: Lake Garda package holidays overwhelmingly use Verona (VRN) as the gateway airport. A full-day ENAV ATC strike on June 13 means every flight into and out of VRN that day is at risk. If you have a package holiday beginning on June 13 with a Verona arrival, contact your tour operator NOW to discuss alternative departure dates or alternative Italian airport options (Milan Bergamo BGY is the nearest alternative for Lake Garda, served by Ryanair).

Strike 3 โ€” Cagliariโ€“Elmas Airport (Sardinia): Ground Staff โ€” 06:00โ€“24:00

Staff of SOGAER, Sogaerdyn and SOGAER Security at Cagliariโ€“Elmas Airport will strike on Saturday June 13, 2026 from 06:00 to 24:00.

Cagliari is Sardinia’s main airport and the primary gateway for UK and European summer holidays to the island. The SOGAER ground handling and security strike covers the full operating day โ€” meaning check-in, baggage handling, and security screening are all disrupted simultaneously.

At Cagliariโ€“Elmas Airport, UGL-TA has called a 4-hour walkout of SOGAER, Sogaerdyn and SOGAER Security staff on June 13, 2026 from 12:00 to 16:00.

The Cagliari disruption on June 13 is compounded by the easyJet national strike โ€” easyJet operates multiple UK services to Cagliari (Ryanair CAG routes also remain at risk from the ENAV Cagliari ATC confirmation).

For Sardinia-bound passengers on June 13: Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB) in northern Sardinia is not currently included in the June 13 action. If your itinerary allows flexibility, an alternative departure to OLB may preserve your Sardinian holiday, though accommodation and ground transport would need to change.

Strike 4 โ€” Sky Service Milan Linate: Ground Handling โ€” 12:00โ€“16:00

USB Lavoro Privato has filed a 4-hour strike for Sky Service personnel operating at Milan Linate from 12:00 to 16:00.

Milan Linate (LIN) serves as Milan’s inner-city airport for domestic and select European services. The 4-hour Sky Service ground handling strike will disrupt check-in, baggage, and ramp operations at Linate between noon and 16:00 on June 13. Airlines most affected: Alitalia ITA Airways domestic services, Air France, Lufthansa regional services to LIN.

Note: Milan Malpensa (MXP) is NOT included in the June 13 action and is expected to operate normally on June 13.


JUNE 13 โ€” AIRPORT RISK RATINGS

Airport Code Risk level Primary threat Nearest safe alternative
Verona Villafranca VRN ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด CRITICAL ENAV ATC 18hrs โ€” total closure Milan Bergamo BGY / Venice VCE
Cagliari (Sardinia) CAG ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด HIGH Ground staff + security 18hrs Olbia OLB
Milan Linate LIN ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด MEDIUM Sky Service ground 12:00โ€“16:00 Milan Malpensa MXP
Rome Fiumicino FCO ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด MEDIUM easyJet strike (easyJet flights only) Ciampino CIA (Ryanair)
Milan Malpensa MXP ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด LOW-MEDIUM easyJet only Milan Linate LIN
Venice Marco Polo VCE ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด LOW-MEDIUM easyJet only Venice Treviso TSF
Naples Capodichino NAP ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด LOW-MEDIUM easyJet only No comparable alternative
Bologna BLQ ๐Ÿ”ด LOW easyJet limited Florence FLR
Other airports โ€” ๐ŸŸข NORMAL No June 13 action reported โ€”

JULY 5 โ€” THE BIGGER DANGER

Why July 5 Is Italy’s Highest-Risk Aviation Day of the Summer

July 5 carries the highest disruption risk of the month for international travellers. Unlike rail or road strikes, aviation stoppages affect your primary entry point into the country and can collapse onward connections, car rentals, and hotel bookings in a single chain reaction. A 24-hour nationwide strike from midnight to midnight has been called by Italian transport union CUB Trasporti, covering ground handling, fuelling, and baggage staff across Italian airports.

The July 5 action is structurally different from June 13 โ€” and more dangerous. June 13 is a carrier-specific and single-airport ATC action. July 5 is a simultaneous nationwide multi-union action combining:

  1. A 24-hour national ground handling strike (all airports)
  2. A 24-hour Milan ACC ATC strike (all Northern Italy airspace โ€” including overflying traffic)
  3. A 24-hour+ Milan Malpensa tower strike
  4. An 8-hour ADR Security strike at Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino

When these four actions operate simultaneously, the result is the closest Italy’s aviation system can come to a complete national shutdown within Italian law’s minimum service framework.

Strike 1 โ€” CUB Trasporti National: Ground Handling, Fuelling & Baggage โ€” 24 Hours โ€” ALL Italian Airports

CUB Trasporti has announced a nationwide 24-hour strike on July 5, 2026 across the airport sector and related companies, including both Assohandlers member firms and other airport operators. The action will run from 00:00 to 23:59 and may cause widespread disruption at Italian airports.

Ground handling covers: check-in desk agents, baggage sorters, ramp ground crew, aircraft loading, pushback tractors, aircraft cleaning, fuelling, and catering. When ground handling strikes, an aircraft can physically arrive at an Italian airport but cannot be loaded, cleaned, fuelled, or pushed back. The practical consequence is that even airlines whose own employees are not striking may be unable to operate because the ground infrastructure they depend on is not functioning.

This is the most airport-agnostic of the July 5 actions โ€” it applies to Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Palermo, Bologna, Turin, Bari, Catania, and every other Italian commercial airport simultaneously.

Airlines most exposed to the July 5 CUB Trasporti strike: Every airline operating in Italy โ€” Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Wizz Air, Jet2, TUI, Vueling, Transavia, Norwegian, Swiss, Austrian โ€” is affected because all depend on third-party ground handling at Italian airports.

Strike 2 โ€” ENAV Milan Area Control Centre (ACC): 24 Hours โ€” Northern Italy Airspace

ENAV air traffic control staff at the Milan Area Control Center will hold a 24-hour strike on July 5, 2026, called by RSA FAST-CONFSAL-AV. ENAV personnel represented by RSA FAST-CONFSAL-AV will strike for 24 hours from 00:01 to 24:00 on July 5, 2026 at both the Milan Area Control Centre (ACC) and Milan Malpensa Airport.

The Milan ACC is not simply Milan’s local control. It manages all airspace over Northern Italy โ€” including:

  • All flights into and out of Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Milan Linate (LIN)
  • All flights into and out of Venice Marco Polo (VCE)
  • All flights into and out of Turin (TRN), Bergamo (BGY), Brescia (VBS), and Verona (VRN)
  • All transiting aircraft crossing Northern Italian airspace between Central Europe and the Mediterranean โ€” including flights from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the UK that overfly Northern Italy en route to Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East

Three hubs deserve particular attention: the Milan ACC control centre managing all of Northern Italy’s airspace is striking for the full 24 hours. This can affect flights simply passing through the region โ€” not just those landing in Milan.

This means that on July 5, a UK passenger flying from London to Athens on a routing that crosses Northern Italian airspace may experience a delay or rerouting even without any Italian airports in their itinerary.

Strike 3 โ€” ENAV Milan Malpensa Tower: 24 Hours + 13:00โ€“17:00 Additional

ENAV personnel at Milan Malpensa Airport will strike for four hours on July 5, 2026 from 13:00 to 17:00, called by UILT-UIL company representatives.

Combined with the Milan ACC 24-hour action, Malpensa’s tower strike compounds the Northern Italy closure โ€” meaning aircraft cannot approach, land, or depart from Italy’s busiest international hub in the north for most of July 5.

Milan Malpensa handles 29 million passengers annually โ€” more than any other Italian airport outside Rome Fiumicino. It is the primary gateway for Milan, Turin, and the Italian Lake District (Lake Como, Lake Maggiore). For UK travellers, Malpensa is served by British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, ITA Airways, and multiple charter operators.

Strike 4 โ€” ADR Security Rome Fiumicino + Ciampino: 10:00โ€“18:00

Security-screening staff employed by ADR Security at Rome’s Fiumicino and Ciampino airports will strike on July 5, 2026 from 10:00 to 18:00

ADR (Aeroporti di Roma) Security manages passport control and security screening at both Rome airports. An 8-hour security strike from 10:00โ€“18:00 means the busiest part of the operating day at Rome’s two airports has degraded or absent security screening capacity โ€” creating processing bottlenecks that cascade into departure delays even for airlines not directly involved in the strike.


JULY 5 โ€” AIRPORT RISK RATINGS

Airport Code Risk level Threats Action required
Milan Malpensa MXP ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด CRITICAL ACC 24hrs + Tower 24hrs + Ground 24hrs Rebook immediately
Milan Linate LIN ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด CRITICAL ACC 24hrs + Ground 24hrs Rebook immediately
Venice Marco Polo VCE ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด CRITICAL ACC 24hrs + Ground 24hrs Rebook to July 4 or 6
Rome Fiumicino FCO ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด HIGH Security 08hrs + Ground 24hrs Avoid 10:00โ€“18:00 window
Rome Ciampino CIA ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด HIGH Security 08hrs + Ground 24hrs Avoid 10:00โ€“18:00 window
Turin Caselle TRN ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด HIGH ACC 24hrs + Ground 24hrs Rebook to July 4 or 6
Bergamo Orio BGY ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด HIGH ACC 24hrs + Ground 24hrs Rebook to July 4 or 6
Naples Capodichino NAP ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด MEDIUM-HIGH Ground 24hrs (no ACC) Expect delays
Catania CTA ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด MEDIUM-HIGH Ground 24hrs Expect delays
Palermo PMO ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด MEDIUM-HIGH Ground 24hrs Expect delays
Bari BRI ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด MEDIUM Ground 24hrs Monitor
Bologna BLQ ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด MEDIUM Ground 24hrs Monitor

The Protected Slots โ€” What Italian Law Guarantees

Under Italian Law 146/1990 (the strike regulation law), aviation is classified as an essential public service. Strikes in essential services must comply with minimum service obligations, including guaranteed operating windows.

Flights between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM and between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM are always protected. All intercontinental arrivals, including transits through Italian airports, are guaranteed.

What the protected slots mean in practice:

Time (Italian) Status Notes
00:00โ€“07:00 ๐Ÿ”ด Strike risk Night operations at risk
07:00โ€“10:00 ๐ŸŸข Protected Depart Italy in this window for highest reliability
10:00โ€“18:00 ๐Ÿ”ด Strike risk Peak disruption window โ€” avoid if possible
18:00โ€“21:00 ๐ŸŸข Protected Arrive into Italy in this window for highest reliability
21:00โ€“24:00 ๐Ÿ”ด Strike risk Late evening at risk

Critically: On July 5, the ATC component may not observe the standard protected slots. Every previous Italy 2026 strike was an airline or ground handler strike. Those strikes targeted specific carriers. When ENAV Rome ACC controllers down tools, they do not target one carrier. They reduce Italy’s total airspace management capacity across the board. The Milan ACC 24-hour strike on July 5 creates an ATC capacity reduction across all Northern Italy airspace โ€” protected slots reduce this risk for specific airlines but cannot guarantee normal operations when the fundamental airspace management capacity is reduced.

The safest strategy for both dates: Book flights scheduled within the 07:00โ€“10:00 departure window from Italy (arriving at UK airports before noon) or within the 18:00โ€“21:00 Italian-time arrival window into Italy. Avoid any departure or arrival between 10:00 and 18:00 on June 13 or July 5.


June 26 โ€” The Third Italy Strike Date You Should Know

While this article focuses on June 13 and July 5, there is a third Italy strike date between them that all summer travellers should note.

June 26: A full 24-hour nationwide strike covers ground handling across all Italian airports. Tight connections should not be scheduled on this date. Airports most exposed: Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Venice, and Bologna.

June 26 is a ground handling strike โ€” it does not include ATC or carrier-specific cabin crew actions. This means flights can physically land and depart on June 26, but check-in, baggage handling, and ground services will be significantly degraded. Passengers with tight connections through Italian airports on June 26 should allow a minimum of 4-hour connection buffers.

The key Italy summer aviation strike calendar:

Date Action Impact level
June 13 easyJet 18hrs + ENAV Verona 18hrs + Cagliari ground ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด High
June 26 Nationwide ground handling 24hrs โ€” ALL airports ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด Medium-High
July 5 CUB national ground 24hrs + Milan ACC 24hrs + ADR Security FCO/CIA ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด Critical

Your Complete Rights Guide โ€” EU261, UK261 & Italian Law

easyJet Carrier Strike (June 13 โ€” Their Own Employees)

easyJet’s June 13 strike involves its own pilots and cabin crew. This is the most legally clear scenario for passengers:

EU/UK travellers: EU261/2004 and identical UK261 require airlines to rebook affected passengers to their final destination at the earliest possible opportunity, even when this means moving them to other airlines. Airlines are also required to offer accommodation and meals in case of long delays and cancellations. If the airline’s own or contractor employees are striking, the airline is on the hook for delay compensation as well, unless they manage to rebook you on another airline.

Your EU261 rights against easyJet on June 13:

Distance Compensation
Under 1,500km โ‚ฌ250 per passenger
1,500โ€“3,500km โ‚ฌ400 per passenger
Over 3,500km โ‚ฌ600 per passenger

UKโ€“Italy routes: London to Rome Fiumicino is approximately 1,450km. โ‚ฌ250 per passenger. London to Naples is approximately 1,500โ€“1,600km. โ‚ฌ400 per passenger. UK261 equivalents: ยฃ220 and ยฃ350.

Important: easyJet may attempt to classify the June 13 action as an “extraordinary circumstance” to avoid paying compensation. This is legally disputed. A carrier’s own staff strike is generally not classified as extraordinary circumstance under EU Court of Justice precedent (Finnair v Timy Lassooy, 2012). If easyJet rejects your compensation claim, escalate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or an EU National Enforcement Body.

Duty of care regardless of cause: easyJet must provide meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation (if overnight required) for all significant delays and cancellations โ€” even if they successfully argue extraordinary circumstances to avoid paying cash compensation.

How to claim: easyjet.com โ†’ Help โ†’ Disruption Compensation. Or via AirHelp (airhelp.com) no-win, no-fee. Or UK CAA (caa.co.uk/passengers) if easyJet rejects.

ENAV ATC Strike (Verona June 13, Milan ACC July 5)

If the strike involves other employees (such as Air Traffic Controllers), you need to prove that the airline was unwilling to offer you the most direct option.

ATC strikes are classified as extraordinary circumstances under EU261 โ€” meaning cash compensation is not payable. However:

  • Full refund or free rebooking: always required, regardless of cause
  • Duty of care (meals, hotel): always required for delays of 3+ hours, regardless of cause
  • Rebooking on alternative carrier: required if the airline cannot get you to your destination on their own aircraft within a reasonable time

How to claim duty of care if your flight is cancelled due to ATC strike: Present your boarding pass and flight cancellation notification at the airline’s airport service desk. Request meal vouchers for the current delay period and hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required. Keep all receipts for out-of-pocket expenses โ€” these are reimbursable even without cash compensation.

CUB Trasporti Ground Handling Strike (July 5)

Ground handling strikes occupy a similar legal position to ATC strikes โ€” they are third-party workers, not airline employees. Cash compensation under EU261 is unlikely to be awarded for a pure ground handling strike unless your specific airline’s own employees are also included in the action. Duty of care rights apply in full.


What to Do RIGHT NOW โ€” Your Six-Step Action Plan

Step 1 โ€” Check your booking immediately. Log into easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, British Airways or whichever airline holds your Italy booking. Check the departure date. If it is June 13 or July 5, activate steps 2โ€“6 immediately.

Step 2 โ€” Check the departure and arrival times. If your Italy flight on either strike date falls within the protected windows (07:00โ€“10:00 or 18:00โ€“21:00 Italian time), there is a reasonable probability of operating โ€” with delays. If it falls outside, expect cancellation.

Step 3 โ€” Contact your airline proactively. Do not wait for the airline to contact you. Airlines must notify affected passengers at least 48 hours before a strike cancellation (by June 11 for June 13 flights, by July 3 for July 5 flights). Contacting them now rather than waiting gives you first access to alternative options before inventory fills.

Step 4 โ€” Request penalty-free date change. Under EU261/UK261, cancelled flights entitle you to rebooking at no additional charge. Request rebooking to June 12 (one day before June 13 strike) or June 14 (one day after). For July 5: request July 4 or July 6.

Step 5 โ€” Package holiday passengers โ€” contact your tour operator. ATOL-protected UK package holidays (TUI, Jet2 Holidays, On the Beach, etc.) include statutory protection for flight disruptions. Your tour operator must arrange alternative flights or provide a full refund of the package price if your flight is cancelled by a strike. Contact your tour operator’s emergency line rather than the airline directly โ€” the operator holds the contractual responsibility for the complete package.

Step 6 โ€” Travel insurance check. If you have annual travel insurance or a single-trip policy, check whether strike disruption is covered. Many UK policies cover travel disruption caused by strikes if the strike is announced more than 24 hours before your departure. For June 13: the strike was announced well in advance, meaning insurance claims may be valid.


Airline Contacts for Italy Bookings

Airline UK phone Online rebooking
easyJet 0330 365 5000 easyjet.com โ†’ Help โ†’ Manage Booking
Ryanair 0330 100 7838 ryanair.com โ†’ Manage My Booking
British Airways 0800 727 800 ba.com โ†’ Manage My Booking
Jet2 0333 300 0042 jet2.com โ†’ Manage My Booking
TUI Fly 0203 451 2688 tui.co.uk โ†’ Manage My Booking
Wizz Air UK 0330 977 0444 wizzair.com โ†’ My Account
ITA Airways +39 06 8596 0020 ita-airways.com โ†’ Manage Booking
Lufthansa 0371 945 9747 lufthansa.com โ†’ My Bookings
Air France 0800 234 6005 airfrance.com โ†’ Manage My Booking
UK CAA (EU261/UK261) 020 7379 7311 caa.co.uk/passengers
AirHelp (no-win no-fee) โ€” airhelp.com
Bottonline UK261 โ€” bottonline.co.uk

Summary โ€” Italy Aviation Strike Quick Reference

June 13 July 5
Risk level ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด High ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ”ด Critical
easyJet Italy 18-hour national walkout Not confirmed โ€” monitor
ENAV Verona ATC 18-hour closure โ€” 06:00โ€“24:00 Not active
Milan ACC (Northern Italy) Not active 24-hour closure โ€” ALL flights
Milan Malpensa tower Not active 24-hour + 13:00โ€“17:00 extra
Cagliari ground 18-hour action Not confirmed
Rome security (ADR) Not active 10:00โ€“18:00 โ€” FCO + CIA
National ground handling Not active 24hrs โ€” ALL Italian airports
Protected slots 07:00โ€“10:00 ยท 18:00โ€“21:00 Reduced reliability on July 5
EU261 cash compensation โœ… easyJet own-staff strike ATC/Ground = duty of care only
UK261 cash compensation โœ… easyJet own-staff strike ATC/Ground = duty of care only
Safest airports June 13 MXP, Naples (non-easyJet only) NONE in Northern Italy
Rebook to June 12 or June 14 July 4 or July 6

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Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.

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