Published on : 25 Feb 2026
🔴 ITALY TRAVEL EMERGENCY | Published: February 25, 2026 | Last Updated: February 25, 2026, 8:00 AM EST
Aviation Strike Date: TOMORROW — Thursday, February 26, 2026 — 00:01 to 23:59 CET Pre-Cancellations TODAY: 15 ITA Airways domestic flights already cancelled Feb 25 — 3 from Milan Linate, 12 from Rome Fiumicino ITA Airways Feb 26: ~55% of schedule cancelled — 250–300 flights grounded easyJet Italy: 24-hour strike — 180–220 flights (Milan Malpensa worst hit) Vueling: 4-hour strike — 13:00–17:00 CET only — 40–60 flights Ground Handling: Full 24-hour walkout — ALL Italian airports (baggage handlers, check-in, security support) Protected Hours: 07:00–10:00 AM and 18:00–21:00 PM CET — only 30% of flights protected Dangerous Window: 10:00 AM – 18:00 PM CET — 70% of daily flights UNPROTECTED — mass cancellations TODAY Feb 25: National local transport strike — buses, metro, trams across Rome and Milan DISRUPTED NOW Rail Strike: February 27 21:00 — February 28 20:59 — ALL Trenitalia, Italo, FS Group trains Malpensa Express Alert: Replacement buses operating if rail cancelled Feb 27–28 ATC Threat: March 7 — Rome ACC air traffic controllers 4-hour strike during Paralympics Total Passengers at Risk: 300,000–500,000 across the 4-day window Feb 25–28 EU261 Cash Compensation: YES — staff strikes = €250–€600 DOES apply (unlike weather)
If you are flying with ITA Airways, easyJet, or Vueling tomorrow — or connecting through Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice Marco Polo, Bologna, Naples, Catania, or Palermo — this is your absolute last chance to act.
ITA Airways has already pre-emptively cancelled roughly 55% of its schedule on February 26 and warned that knock-on cancellations may affect flights late on February 25 and early on February 27. That warning is already coming true: ITA has also cancelled flights on February 25 and 27. Wednesday’s 15 preliminary cancellations are all domestic services, with three originating at Milan Linate and 12 at Rome Fiumicino.
The Italian aviation strike of February 26 is the worst 72-hour transport shutdown in Italy since before the pandemic — and it is already happening. Right now, today. Here is everything you need to know, verified and updated as of this morning.
Your site covered the February 20 warning and the February 18 aftermath of the previous February 16 strike. What is completely different about this event is the unprecedented stacking of four separate strike actions across four consecutive days — creating a transportation shutdown with no easy escape route at any point during the window.
Italy’s triple-strike nightmare covers February 25–28 2026 — local transport February 25, aviation February 26 with ITA Airways and easyJet on a 24-hour walkout and Vueling on a 4-hour afternoon strike, and nationwide rail from February 27 at 9 PM through February 28 at 9 PM with a complete shutdown of all Italian trains.
The strategic timing was deliberate. The strike was initially set to take place during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, but Transport Minister Matteo Salvini invoked emergency-event powers to defer it until after the Games concluded on February 22. With the Olympics over and the government’s political cover exhausted, the unions moved immediately — and chose the most damaging possible four-day window.
In previous Italian aviation strikes, stranded passengers could always take a train. This time, the trains go on strike the morning after the planes. There is no escape route. That is the single most important operational reality of this event.
Before tomorrow’s aviation chaos even begins, today is already a disrupted travel day in Italy’s two biggest cities.
A 24-hour national strike across local bus, metro and tram systems is scheduled for February 25, with Rome and Milan expected to see sharp service reductions outside legally mandated “guarantee” time windows when minimum levels of service must be maintained.
City-by-city modalities apply with statutory guarantee windows — in Rome: 08:30–17:00 and 20:00–end of service; in Milan: 08:45–15:00 and after 18:00.
What this means practically right now:
In Rome, the metro (Lines A, B, C), city buses (ATAC), and trams will have severely reduced or zero service outside the guarantee windows. If you need to travel within Rome today before 08:30 or between 17:00 and 20:00, expect long waits, packed vehicles when they do run, and possible complete service suspension on some lines.
In Milan, the ATM network (metro Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 plus buses and trams) is disrupted outside 08:45–15:00 and after 18:00. If you are trying to get from central Milan to Malpensa Airport or Linate Airport today during the strike window, plan for the following:
The local transport strike is a direct precursor to tomorrow’s aviation chaos. If you cannot get to your airport today, you cannot catch your flight tomorrow.
The aviation strike on February 26 involves multiple separate actions: ITA Airways staff — 24-hour duration from 00:01 to 23:59; Vueling Airlines staff — 4-hour duration from 13:00 to 17:00; easyJet Airlines Limited pilots and flight attendants — 24-hour duration from 00:01 to 24:00.
The aerial strike has been called by the major confederations — Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uil-Trasporti, Ugl Trasporto Aereo, Anpac and Anp — and will involve flight-crew and ground-handling personnel at ITA Airways, easyJet, Vueling and the main airport service companies.
On top of the airline strikes, ground handling companies are also participating. The February 26 strike is a national event affecting the entire air transport sector, including airport workers, ground handlers, airline staff, and pilots. The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has already listed the strike on its official strike calendar.
This means that even if your specific airline is not ITA, easyJet, or Vueling — if you are flying through an Italian airport tomorrow, your flight may still face delays because the people loading your bags, cleaning your plane, and processing your check-in are on strike.
Under Italian Law 146/1990 and ENAC (Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority) regulations, strikes cannot affect all flights equally. A guaranteed minimum service must be maintained during two protected windows:
Protected Window 1 — Morning: 07:00 to 10:00 CET Protected Window 2 — Evening: 18:00 to 21:00 CET
Within these windows, a minimum percentage of flights must operate. Airlines are legally required to protect specific routes during these times. ENAC has published the list of protected flights on the ITA Airways website and at aeroporti.it.
Additionally protected from strike action:
The Danger Zone — 10:00 to 18:00 CET: Protected flight hours cover 7–10 AM and 6–9 PM, leaving 30% of flights protected and 70% of daily flights outside protected windows — meaning mass cancellations are expected in the 10 AM to 6 PM window.
If your flight is scheduled between 10:00 AM and 18:00 PM CET tomorrow — it is in the maximum danger zone. Check your flight’s status on ITA’s website right now.
ITA Airways has already issued a warning to its passengers, stating that it will be forced to cancel around 55% of its flights on February 26. This means that more than half of the airline’s passengers will be stranded, with business travelers and families facing the brunt of the cancellations.
Projected ITA Airways cancellations: 250–300 flights (similar to the February 16 precedent).
ITA has published the full list of cancelled flights on itaairways.com. If you are booked on ITA Airways tomorrow, check your specific flight number on their website right now — do not wait for an email notification.
ITA Rebooking Rights: ITA Airways has stated passengers will be able to rebook their flights or receive refunds for cancelled services. Go to itaairways.com or call ITA’s customer service: Italy +39 06 8520 8200 | UK +44 20 3059 8040 | US +1 877 793 1717.
EasyJet Airlines Limited pilots and flight attendants are striking for 24-hour duration, from 00:01 to 24:00. Projected easyJet Italy cancellations: 180–220 flights — with Milan Malpensa the worst-affected airport for easyJet.
Important distinction: Only easyJet’s Italy-based crews are striking. easyJet flights operated by crews based in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, or Spain may still operate — but they will be affected by ground handling disruptions at Italian airports. A UK-based easyJet crew flying into Rome Fiumicino will still face delays because the baggage handlers and ground support staff at FCO are on strike.
Check your easyJet flight at easyjet.com or via the easyJet app. easyJet’s standard disruption policy entitles passengers to free rebooking or a full refund via the app.
Vueling Airlines staff are striking for a 4-hour duration from 13:00 to 17:00. Projected Vueling cancellations: 40–60 flights — the 4-hour window significantly limits damage compared to a full 24-hour action.
If you are flying Vueling tomorrow outside the 13:00–17:00 window, your risk is significantly lower than ITA or easyJet passengers. However, ground handling delays will affect your check-in, boarding, and baggage even if your flight operates.
Ryanair, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and all other carriers operating at Italian airports tomorrow face ground handling disruptions. Your flight may operate — but your bags may be delayed, your check-in may be slower, and your gate boarding may take longer than normal. Allow extra time at the airport.
| Airport | Cancellation Risk | Primary Carrier Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome Fiumicino (FCO) | 🔴 SEVERE | ITA Airways primary hub | 12 pre-cancellations already today |
| Milan Malpensa (MXP) | 🔴 SEVERE | easyJet primary hub | Ground handling + airline crews both striking |
| Milan Linate (LIN) | 🔴 HIGH | ITA Airways + easyJet | 3 pre-cancellations already today |
| Venice Marco Polo (VCE) | 🔴 HIGH | ITA Airways + easyJet | Post-Carnival crowds + strike = severe congestion |
| Bologna (BLQ) | 🟠 ELEVATED | ITA Airways + Ryanair spillover | Ground handling disrupted |
| Naples (NAP) | 🟠 ELEVATED | ITA Airways + easyJet | Southern Italy hub |
| Catania (CTA) | 🟡 PROTECTED | Island route protection | Mainland–Sicily connections protected |
| Palermo (PMO) | 🟡 PROTECTED | Island route protection | Mainland–Sicily connections protected |
| Cagliari (CAG) | 🟡 PROTECTED | Island route protection | Mainland–Sardinia connections protected |
| Bergamo (BGY) | 🟠 ELEVATED | Ryanair spillover | Ground handling disrupted |
This is the single most important legal distinction between the Italy aviation strike and the US blizzard or the Mexico security event — and it is the detail most English-language travel sites are completely missing.
Staff strikes are NOT considered extraordinary circumstances under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, and cash compensation applies in the case of long delays and/or flight cancellations.
This is the opposite of weather cancellations. When a blizzard cancels your flight, airlines are exempt from paying the €250–€600 cash compensation because weather is an extraordinary circumstance beyond their control. When a staff strike cancels your flight, the European Court of Justice has ruled that internal airline staff strikes — unlike general third-party strikes — are NOT extraordinary circumstances. The airline owes you compensation.
Your EU261 Rights for Tomorrow’s Strike — exactly what you are owed:
Right 1: Rebooking or Full Refund (always applies) These three affected airlines are required to rebook affected passengers to their final destinations as expeditiously as possible and to provide Duty of Care, such as accommodation and meals, regardless of the reason for the cancellation.
Right 2: Duty of Care (always applies — even for strike)
Right 3: Cash Compensation (€250–€600 — applies for strike)
| Flight Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km (e.g. Rome–London, Milan–Paris) | €250 per person |
| 1,500–3,500 km (e.g. Rome–Athens, Milan–Tel Aviv) | €400 per person |
| Over 3,500 km (e.g. Rome–New York, Milan–Dubai) | €600 per person |
Reduced to 50% if rerouted arriving within: 2 hours (under 1,500km), 3 hours (1,500–3,500km), or 4 hours (over 3,500km) of original scheduled arrival.
How to claim:
Important nuance for ITA Airways specifically: ITA Airways is Italy’s flag carrier. The legal precedent on “internal strikes” vs. “extraordinary circumstances” may be litigated more aggressively by ITA than by budget carriers. Consider using an EU261 claims management service (AirHelp, ClaimCompass, Flightright) if ITA denies your claim — they work on no-win-no-fee basis.
If you survive Thursday’s flight cancellations and plan to travel by train on Friday or Saturday — read this carefully.
The CUB Trasporti and SGB unions have called a national rail strike from 9:00 PM on February 27 to 8:59 PM on February 28, which could have repercussions on rail traffic in Lombardy. On Friday, February 27, trains scheduled to depart by 9:00 PM according to the official timetable and arriving at their final destination by 10:00 PM will run. On Saturday, February 28, trains will run during the guaranteed time slots from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
According to strike notices published on 22 February, the entire Italian transport chain will be hit by a coordinated wave of walkouts — Trenitalia, Italo, and FS Group will all be affected, covering national rail stoppages from the evening of Friday 27 February through Saturday 28 February.
The practical meaning for travelers:
Friday February 27 — board your train BEFORE 21:00 CET. Any train scheduled to depart by 9:00 PM Friday and arrive at its final destination by 10:00 PM will run. If you need to travel Rome–Milan, Rome–Florence–Milan, or any other long-distance route on Friday — book the earliest available departure. Do not leave it until Friday evening.
Saturday February 28 — trains only in the protected windows. 06:00–09:00 and 18:00–21:00 are the only guaranteed service windows. If you have a Saturday morning flight and need to catch a train to the airport, your only safe options are:
In the event of cancellation of airport train services, non-stop replacement buses will be provided between: Milano Cadorna and Malpensa Airport for the RE54 line (buses depart from Via Paleocapa 1), and between Stabio and Malpensa Airport for the S50 Malpensa Airport–Stabio route.
This is the Malpensa detail everyone needs to know: if the Malpensa Express is cancelled on Saturday, there is a replacement bus service. It will be crowded. Book it early.
The strikes are scheduled to be 24-hour walkouts beginning at midnight on both February 26 and March 7. The Air Traffic Trade Association is leading the coordinated action.
A previous strike date was postponed during the Winter Olympics, but negotiations remain unresolved. Another aviation strike is scheduled for March 7, which could create further disruption if talks do not progress.
March 7 falls the day after the Winter Paralympics opening in Milan-Cortina. The government blocked the original February 16 strike to protect the Olympics. Whether they will similarly block March 7 to protect the Paralympics is genuinely uncertain. It is currently uncertain whether the March 7 strike will also be subject to postponement.
Monitor Italian transport news closely. If you are flying through Italy in the first two weeks of March, build in disruption buffers and book refundable fares where possible.
Step 1: Check your flight status immediately. Go to your airline’s website or app and search your specific flight number for February 26. ITA Airways has published a full list of cancelled flights at itaairways.com. Check it now, before the cancelled list grows further.
Step 2: Decide — rebook now or take your chances in the protected windows. If your flight is between 10:00 AM and 18:00 PM CET tomorrow, you are in the maximum danger zone. Two options:
Step 3: Navigate today’s local transport strike carefully. If you are in Rome or Milan today and need to reach your airport or train station — use the guaranteed service windows. In Rome: travel between 08:30–17:00 or after 20:00. In Milan: travel between 08:45–15:00 or after 18:00. Use Malpensa Express (train, unaffected today) for Malpensa. Use taxis or Uber for Linate and other airports.
Step 4: Book hotel accommodation if you might be stranded. Milan and Rome hotels are filling rapidly as stranded passengers from tomorrow’s strike book emergency rooms. If your flight is in the danger zone and you are flying into Italy tomorrow, book a refundable hotel room tonight as insurance. Cancel it if your flight operates.
Step 5: Pack essentials in your carry-on. If your checked bag is delayed (ground handler strike = baggage delays even on operating flights), you need your medications, charger, essential documents, and a change of clothes in your cabin bag.
If your flight is cancelled:
If your flight is delayed 2–3 hours:
If you have a connection through an Italian airport tomorrow: Your highest risk scenario. A short connection at FCO, MXP, or LIN during a ground handler strike means your bags may not make it even if your flight does. Allow minimum 3 hours for any Italian airport connection tomorrow. Book onward connections with fully flexible fares.
Book and board all long-distance trains BEFORE 21:00 on Friday. The Rome–Milan Frecciarossa, Florence–Venice, and Naples–Rome high-speed services are your last reliable rail connections before the 48-hour shutdown.
If you need to travel long-distance on Saturday, hire a car (book tonight — Saturday car rental in Italy will be expensive and limited by morning), or book the earliest Saturday morning flight out of Italy before the March 7 ATC situation develops.
Rail guaranteed windows only: 06:00–09:00 and 18:00–21:00.
If you have a Saturday morning flight at FCO, MXP, or another airport and your airport connection is by train:
The proximate cause of the strikes is the long-running renewal of the national collective labour contracts for air and rail transport workers. Unions accuse employers of offering below-inflation wage increases, cutting rest periods and ignoring staffing shortages heightened by the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics construction boom.
Industrial relations in Italy’s aviation sector have been strained for months over wage alignment, roster patterns and staffing levels.
The underlying dissatisfaction regarding pay and working conditions remains significant, making the situation unpredictable. It is currently uncertain whether the March 7 strike will also be subject to postponement.
For travelers planning Italy trips in the next 60–90 days: Italy’s labour calendar has at least one more confirmed action on March 7, with negotiations on aviation, rail, and local transport contracts all unresolved. Build disruption buffers into all Italy itineraries through May 2026 and book fully flexible fares wherever possible.
| Resource | Contact |
|---|---|
| ITA Airways cancelled flights list | itaairways.com/strike |
| ITA Airways customer service (Italy) | +39 06 8520 8200 |
| ITA Airways customer service (UK) | +44 20 3059 8040 |
| ITA Airways customer service (US) | +1 877 793 1717 |
| easyJet flight management | easyjet.com / easyJet app |
| Vueling flight management | vueling.com |
| ENAC protected flights list | enac.gov.it |
| Rome Fiumicino Airport | adr.it/fiumicino |
| Milan Malpensa Airport | milanomalpensa-airport.com |
| Trenord Malpensa replacement bus | trenord.it |
| Trenitalia strike timetables | trenitalia.com |
| Italo strike timetables | italotreno.it |
| Italian Ministry of Transport strike calendar | mit.gov.it |
| AirHelp EU261 claims | airhelp.com |
| FlightAware Italy airports | flightaware.com |
1. Check your February 26 ITA Airways flight on itaairways.com right now. 15 flights are already cancelled today. Hundreds more will be confirmed cancelled tonight. Know your status before you try to sleep.
2. Rebook out of the 10:00–18:00 danger zone or accept the cancellation and claim EU261 cash. These are your only two rational strategies. Anything else is hoping for luck.
3. Book train travel BEFORE 21:00 Friday if you need to move long-distance this weekend. The rail shutdown from Friday night through Saturday is your biggest trap. Do not get caught on the wrong side of it.
4. Know your EU261 rights. You are owed €250–€600 cash per person if your ITA Airways, easyJet, or Vueling flight is cancelled tomorrow. Staff strikes are NOT extraordinary circumstances. This money is legally yours — claim it.
Italy is one of the world’s greatest travel destinations. It is also, right now, one of the world’s most disrupted aviation markets. The good news: the law is firmly on your side. The bad news: you have to know how to use it.
Published: February 25, 2026. Information sourced from ITA Airways official strike advisory (February 22, 2026), ENAC official strike notice, LoyaltyLobby (February 25, 2026 — published 2 hours ago), Simple Flying (February 23, 2026), TravelPirates (February 25, 2026 — published 17 hours ago), VisaHQ Italy strike advisory (February 22, 2026), StrikeTracker.app, Trenord official replacement service notice (February 2026), The Traveler, 4gates.cruises Italy strike calendar, FIRSTonline, and EU Regulation EC 261/2004 official text. All figures accurate as of 8:00 AM EST February 25, 2026.
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Posted By : Vinay
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