Published on : 13 Feb 2026
Breaking — Final Warning: The 72-hour window has opened on Italy’s biggest aviation strike of 2026 — Monday February 16 — with Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini personally summoning union leaders to his ministry in a last-ditch attempt to postpone the action, only to be rebuffed as unions declared “we have no choice but to go back on strike” and proceeded to publish the legally required protected flight lists today, February 13, confirming that ITA Airways, EasyJet, Vueling, Airport Handling, ALHA cargo, and ground staff at Milan Malpensa, Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Venice, Naples, Bologna, and Verona will all walk out simultaneously for 24 hours on Presidents Day Monday — with 70% of ITA’s 314 scheduled flights falling outside guaranteed time slots, 25,000–27,000 passengers directly affected, a second ENAV air traffic control strike already confirmed for March 7, and tomorrow February 14 the day airlines begin emailing cancellation notices to affected passengers. If you have any Italy flight on Monday February 16, you must act in the next 48 hours. Here is your complete final warning guide.
Published: February 13, 2026 Strike Date: Monday February 16, 2026 — 00:01 to 24:00 (full 24 hours) Hours to Strike: 72 hours from now Protected Lists Published: Today February 13 (legally required 72–96 hours before) Passenger Emails Begin: Tomorrow February 14 Total Flights at Risk: 500+ (ITA Airways 314 + EasyJet 130+ daily Italy ops + Vueling Italy ops) Passengers Affected: 25,000–27,000 directly + thousands more indirectly Airlines Striking: ITA Airways (full staff), EasyJet Italy (pilots + cabin crew), Vueling (cabin crew) Ground Handlers Striking: Airport Handling (MXP + LIN), ALHA cargo (MXP) Airports Affected: Rome FCO, Milan MXP, Milan LIN, Venice VCE, Naples NAP, Bologna BLQ, Verona VRN Guaranteed Hours: 7:00–10:00 AM and 6:00–9:00 PM ONLY Government Intervention: Minister Salvini demanded postponement — REFUSED by unions Next Strike: March 7, 2026 — ENAV Rome ATC 4-hour walkout already confirmed Milan Fashion Week: Begins February 17 — day after strike
This is the critical new development that makes today’s article fundamentally different from everything published previously about February 16.
The Guarantor Commission — Italy’s strike regulation authority — appealed to unions’ “sense of responsibility” to postpone the February 16 walkout, citing overlap with the Winter Olympic Games running February 6–22 in Milan-Cortina. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini agreed with the Commission, announcing an official communication summoning union leaders to his ministry to negotiate a postponement.
The unions’ response was unambiguous.
“We have called the strike for ITA Airways and EasyJet in compliance with strike regulations,” explained Fabrizio Cuscito of Filt-Cgil. “Negotiating tables have been ongoing for months without any progress. In this scenario, unfortunately, we have no choice but to go back on strike to push both companies to renew the expired contracts.”
Ivan Viglietti of Uilt added: “These are not political strikes, but strikes called to demand the renewal of expired contracts. If they want to avoid them, the companies must commit to renewing contracts and Minister Salvini can use moral suasion to push the companies to renew.”
The government played its postponement card. The unions refused. The strike is happening. There is now no legal mechanism remaining to stop it — Italian law prohibits strike bans on non-essential transport workers once the procedural requirements are met, and all procedural requirements have been met.
There are mainly three reasons behind the ITA Airways strike. First, the failure to renew the national collective bargaining agreement which expired in December 2024 — over 13 months of failed renewal talks. Second, the result bonus: “In the quota recognised by the company there is an average of €1,000–1,500 missing compared to what was agreed.” Third, the industrial plan: unions are demanding “more courage” on fleet investment, as only one new long-haul aircraft per year is planned for the 2026–2030 period — five aircraft across five years for Italy’s national carrier.
For EasyJet specifically: “The company has recklessly suspended the negotiations after our proclamation of strike, instead of intensifying the meetings at the negotiation table.” EasyJet Italy’s unions are also demanding contract renewal after expiry — and EasyJet’s response of suspending talks rather than intensifying them has hardened union resolve into the unprecedented step of a UK-based carrier’s Italian staff joining a national Italian aviation strike.
This is the structural reality that Salvini’s phone calls cannot resolve: these workers have not had a new contract for over a year. Their employer has not shown up to negotiate in good faith. No government postponement changes that equation.
Here is the most immediately actionable information in this entire article.
Italian law requires airlines to publish their protected flight lists 72–96 hours before any strike. Today, February 13, is the first day of that window. All affected airlines — ITA Airways, EasyJet, and Vueling — are legally required to publish and communicate their guaranteed February 16 services today.
What “protected flights” means in practice:
Italian aviation law mandates that during strikes, airlines must guarantee services during two windows: 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM local time. All flights scheduled within these windows must operate. All flights outside these windows are at risk of cancellation.
ITA Airways has 314 flights scheduled on February 16, with nearly 70% of departures outside the guaranteed hours.
The brutal arithmetic:
Passengers on cancelled flights can request a full refund or rebooking at no additional cost. EasyJet typically emails affected passengers 24–48 hours before a strike — meaning tomorrow, February 14, is when the majority of impacted passengers will receive cancellation notifications.
How to check if YOUR flight is protected:
For ITA Airways: Visit itaairways.com → Manage Booking → your specific flight will show “Guaranteed” or “At Risk” status today For EasyJet: Visit easyjet.com/en/help → Manage Bookings → strike-affected flights will display rebooking options For Vueling: Visit vueling.com → My Trips → check February 16 departure status
Do this TODAY. Do not wait for tomorrow’s email. Seats on alternative February 15 or February 17 flights are disappearing by the hour as other affected passengers rebook ahead of you.
ITA Airways: Nationwide 24-hour strike (00:01–24:00) by multiple unions — FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, UILT-UIL, UGL-TA, ANPAC and ANP — involving pilots, cabin crew AND ground staff simultaneously.
This is total: not one union, not one category of worker, but six unions covering every single operational role at Italy’s national carrier walking out together. The last time ITA (formerly Alitalia) faced this level of coordinated union action was the final months before Alitalia’s 2021 liquidation.
ITA Airways guaranteed flights (7–10 AM and 6–9 PM only): Rome FCO departures in those windows will operate. Milan LIN/MXP departures in those windows will operate. All other ITA services are at high cancellation risk — including all long-haul intercontinental services (operated outside protected windows).
EasyJet is UK-based, making this strike unprecedented — foreign carriers normally do not join Italian labour actions. This coordination shows how serious labour tensions have become across Italy’s aviation sector.
USB Lavoro Privato has proclaimed a 24-hour national strike for EasyJet flying staff (00:01–24:00) plus an additional 4-hour strike (13:00–17:00) under a separate USB action — meaning EasyJet Italy faces TWO overlapping strike declarations on February 16.
EasyJet operates more than 130 daily departures across Milan Malpensa, Naples, Venice, and Rome Fiumicino, connecting 12 UK airports to Italy — London Gatwick, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham, Luton, Bristol, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Belfast, and others — plus major European leisure routes from Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Barcelona.
UK passengers specifically: Every single EasyJet UK–Italy route on February 16 is at risk. If you are flying Gatwick→Rome, Manchester→Milan, Edinburgh→Venice, or any other UK–Italy EasyJet service on Monday, check your booking NOW.
RSA FILT-CGIL and ANPAC called a 24-hour national strike for Vueling cabin crew in Italy (00:01–24:00). Additionally CUB Trasporti has proclaimed a separate 4-hour strike of Vueling flight personnel (11:30–15:30) — meaning Vueling faces two simultaneous strike declarations covering different worker groups.
Vueling is Iberia’s budget brand within the IAG group, operating extensively on Spain–Italy and wider Europe–Italy routes. Vueling is also used as a feeder carrier for American Airlines connections through Barcelona and Madrid — US passengers with AA codeshare tickets showing VY flight numbers on February 16 Italy legs are directly affected.
Milan Airports: Severe ground operation delays at Malpensa (MXP) and Linate (LIN) due to strikes by Airport Handling and ALHA cargo staff.
CUB Trasporti has proclaimed a 24-hour strike at ALHA (Milan Malpensa) and a 24-hour strike at Airport Handling covering both Milan Linate and Malpensa on February 16.
This is the sleeper crisis that most passengers are ignoring. Even if your specific airline is NOT striking — Ryanair, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France — if you are departing from Milan Malpensa or Milan Linate on February 16, the ground handlers who check you in, load your bags, fuel the aircraft, push back from the gate, and handle ramp operations are on strike. This means:
A Ryanair passenger flying MXP→London on February 16 may find their flight technically “not cancelled” but delayed 2–3 hours due to ground handling shortage.
February 16 sits within a broader wave of Italian transport strikes across the entire month. Drivers for Genoa’s AMT public transport are striking 11:30 AM–3:30 PM on February 16. A nationwide railway workers’ strike covering FS Group (Trenitalia) is scheduled February 27–28. Separate bus and tram strikes are running throughout February across multiple Italian cities.
For tourists arriving in Italy via one of the guaranteed protected flights on February 16: Getting from the airport to your hotel or city centre may be complicated. Milan’s ATM metro system is NOT striking on February 16, but bus services in several cities are affected. Check local transport status for your specific Italian destination.
The Guarantor Commission specifically cited overlap with the Winter Olympic Games taking place February 6–22 in Milan-Cortina 2026 as grounds for requesting postponement, arguing the need to ensure “a fair balance between the exercise of the right to strike and the smooth running of the Olympic event.”
This creates a painful irony: international visitors who travelled to Italy for the Winter Olympics — including tens of thousands of US, UK, Canadian, and Australian fans — are now attempting to depart on Presidents Day Monday February 16 directly into the jaws of a full aviation shutdown.
Olympic visitor impact:
The Olympic Games do not grant you immunity from the strike. If your departure airport is Milan or Rome and your carrier is ITA, EasyJet, or Vueling, your flight is at risk regardless of why you are in Italy.
Today’s 72-hour warning is not just about February 16. It is the beginning of a sustained wave of Italian aviation industrial action.
Air traffic controllers at the ENAV Area Control Centre (ACC) in Rome will take part in a 4-hour national strike on March 7, 2026, from 13:00 to 17:00. As the Rome ACC oversees a significant portion of Italian airspace, the industrial action may lead to widespread flight delays and air traffic disruptions across all of Italy.
March 7 is categorically different from February 16: This is not an airline strike — this is air traffic control. When ENAV Rome ACC strikes, it doesn’t cancel individual flights or specific carriers. It reduces Italian airspace capacity across the board, creating delays for every aircraft flying through Italian airspace — including carriers that never participated in February 16’s action.
Passengers with Italy flights on March 7, 2026 — particularly afternoon departures (13:00–17:00 window) — should monitor this date closely. Ryanair, British Airways, Lufthansa, and every other carrier that “escaped” February 16 will not escape March 7 if they operate afternoon Italian flights.
Italy’s busiest international airport. Double strike exposure: ITA + EasyJet + ALHA cargo handlers + Airport Handling all striking simultaneously. Most international long-haul connections transit MXP. Highest single point of risk on February 16. If you can reroute away from MXP, do so.
ITA Airways’ primary hub. National carrier ground and flight staff all striking. Vast majority of ITA’s 314 scheduled flights route through FCO. US transatlantic connections primarily arrive/depart FCO. Any US passenger connecting through Rome on February 16 is at maximum risk.
ITA’s domestic hub + Airport Handling strike = dual shutdown. Milan Linate is a key airport for domestic ITA Airways routes and local ground handling protests. Domestic Italy connections between Milan and Rome, Venice, Naples all severely compromised.
Venice Marco Polo is a major regional hub affected by both airline and ground handling walkouts. EasyJet operates significantly at VCE — UK-Italy routes through Venice heavily exposed. Peak tourist season beginning — Venice airport will be chaotic.
Naples is a southern hub for both ITA Airways and Vueling operations. EasyJet also operates heavily at NAP. All three striking carriers have Naples exposure.
Bologna and Verona are likely diversion points for flights avoiding Milan and Rome — but are also themselves affected by national ground handling strikes. Using BLQ or VRN as alternatives to MXP/FCO will not fully escape disruption.
This is what you actually need to know if you must travel to, from, or within Italy on Monday:
Airlines NOT involved in the February 16 strike action include Ryanair, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, SWISS, KLM, and Wizz Air.
Important caveat for “safe” carriers at Milan airports: Ryanair, Wizz Air, and other non-striking carriers departing MXP or LIN on February 16 will still be affected by the ground handling strike (ALHA + Airport Handling). Expect delays of 1–3 hours even on technically unaffected carriers departing from Milan.
Truly safest February 16 options:
Priority 1 — Check your flight status RIGHT NOW: Every affected passenger on ITA, EasyJet, or Vueling should check booking status today. Protected lists are being published as you read this.
Priority 2 — Rebook if your flight is outside protected hours: If your February 16 ITA/EasyJet/Vueling flight departs outside 7–10 AM or 6–9 PM windows, assume it will be cancelled. Rebook onto:
Priority 3 — Switch carriers if dates are fixed: If you must fly February 16 and cannot shift dates, rebook onto Ryanair, British Airways, or Lufthansa immediately. These carriers’ February 16 inventory is selling fast.
Priority 4 — Check ground transport: If arriving at MXP or LIN, pre-book private transfer rather than relying on shared ground handlers. Baggage carousels may run 60–120 minutes late.
February 14 is when airlines begin sending cancellation notification emails to affected passengers. EasyJet typically emails 24–48 hours before a strike. ITA and Vueling will also communicate directly with impacted travellers from tomorrow.
If you receive a cancellation email tomorrow:
Last day to rebook before the strike window opens. If you have not yet acted on an at-risk February 16 booking, this is your absolute final opportunity. By Sunday evening, alternative February 16 seats on safe carriers will be sold out.
If you are flying to, from, or within the EU on February 16 and your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, you have the right to either a full refund or rebooking. If you are booked onto a later flight and have to wait more than two hours, you are entitled to assistance including food and drink.
For ITA Airways, EasyJet, and Vueling cancellations — EU261 compensation:
Italian aviation law classifies airline staff strikes as within the carrier’s sphere of responsibility — meaning this is NOT an “extraordinary circumstance” exemption. You are entitled to:
PLUS: Full refund to original payment method OR rebooking on next available flight, meals and refreshments for waits over 2 hours, hotel accommodation if delayed overnight, and transport to/from hotel.
File your claim at:
Italy’s February 16, 2026 aviation strike is now 72 hours away and completely unstoppable. Transport Minister Salvini tried to stop it. The Guarantor Commission appealed for postponement. The Winter Olympics proximity was cited. The unions said no to all of it — because their contracts have been expired for over a year, negotiations have stalled, and a €1,000–€1,500 bonus shortfall per worker remains unresolved. The protected flight lists are being published today. Tomorrow the cancellation emails begin. Monday the lights go out across Italian aviation for 24 hours — ITA Airways, EasyJet, Vueling, Airport Handling, ALHA cargo — simultaneously at Rome, Milan (both airports), Venice, Naples, Bologna and Verona, affecting 25,000–27,000 direct passengers and creating ripple disruptions across every European network that touches Italy. If you have any Italy flight on February 16, the next 48 hours are your window to act.
Your 72-Hour Final Checklist:
✅ ITA Airways Feb 16? Check protected list today at itaairways.com — 70% of flights OUTSIDE safe windows ✅ EasyJet Italy Feb 16? 130+ daily Italy departures at risk — check easyjet.com now, email arrives tomorrow ✅ Vueling Italy Feb 16? Cabin crew striking all day — check vueling.com immediately ✅ Milan MXP/LIN departure? Ground handlers striking even for non-striking carriers — add 2–3 hour buffer ✅ Must fly Feb 16? Rebook onto Ryanair (non-Milan), British Airways, or Lufthansa now ✅ Cancelled? EU261 = €250–€600 per passenger + full refund — do NOT accept travel credit only ✅ March 7 Italy flight? ENAV Rome ATC striking 1–5 PM — afternoon departures at risk ✅ Winter Olympics visitor departing Feb 16? You are not exempt — check carrier status urgently
Monitor your Italy flight live:
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Posted By : Vinay
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