Air travel across Italy faced significant disruption on Friday, June 20, 2025, as a nationwide strike led to the cancellation and delay of over 160 flights at major airports including Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo, Pisa Galileo Galilei, and Florence Amerigo Vespucci. The industrial action, organized by a coalition of grassroots unions, coincided with the early stages of the peak summer travel season, affecting both domestic and international passengers. Major airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) were among the carriers impacted by the work stoppage, which extended across the air and rail sectors.
The strike was initiated in protest against military spending, with unions calling for increased investment in healthcare, education, and public infrastructure. Milan Malpensa International Airport experienced the highest number of disruptions, reporting 31 cancellations and 58 delays. Carriers including Ryanair, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines saw multiple flights grounded, while easyJet faced 34 delays nearly a quarter of its daily schedule at the airport. United Airlines and American Airlines also encountered issues on transatlantic routes.
At Venice Marco Polo Airport, 19 flights were cancelled and 15 delayed, with Ryanair and Air France bearing the brunt of the operational impact. Other airlines including Delta, Austrian Airlines, and Turkish Airlines also reported service interruptions. The airport, a key gateway for tourists entering northeastern Italy, struggled with staffing shortages that compounded the effects of the strike. Operations at Pisa Galileo Galilei and Florence Amerigo Vespucci airports were similarly affected, though on a smaller scale. Ryanair cancelled 14 flights from Pisa, while Florence saw 10 cancellations involving carriers such as Vueling, SAS, and Swiss. Additional delays were reported by airlines including easyJet, KLM, and Air France.
The industrial action also brought Italy’s rail network to a halt. National operator Trenitalia was forced to cancel numerous long-distance and regional services. Limited operations were maintained during mandated protection windows, but thousands of passengers were left stranded or delayed at major stations in cities such as Milan and Rome. Rome’s Fiumicino Airport issued advisories warning travelers of possible disruptions to rail and bus services. Local transit agencies in major urban centers offered restricted service hours to comply with labor protection laws while supporting basic commuter needs during peak periods.
Flag carrier ITA Airways cancelled 34 flights, including routes to London and other European capitals. The airline operated reduced services during protected time slots but struggled to rebook displaced passengers. Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC reiterated that only flights operating between 7:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00 are guaranteed during such strikes. With summer tourism in full swing, the transport sector remains vulnerable to further disruption. Passengers are advised to monitor travel schedules closely and anticipate ongoing volatility as labor disputes continue to shape Italy’s travel landscape.– By MENA Newswire News Desk.