Italy is preparing for a tumultuous end to February as a wave of nationwide transport strikes threatens to upend travel plans for commuters, holidaymakers, and business travelers alike. The strikes, which will ripple across the country from February 26 to 28, 2026, are set to affect air, rail, and local public transportation, creating widespread disruption and uncertainty at a time when Italy is still basking in the afterglow of the recently concluded Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The action begins in earnest on Thursday, February 26, when the airline industry will be hit by a 24-hour strike. This strike, originally scheduled for February 16, was postponed by government intervention to avoid clashing with the Olympics, which wrapped up on February 23, 2026. According to La Milano, the delay was prompted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, who sought to ensure that the international sporting event would not be overshadowed by labor unrest.
Now, with the Olympics behind them, air transport unions are forging ahead. The Cub Trasporti union has called for a full-day strike involving workers across the airline, airport, and related sectors. This means passengers can expect interruptions not only to flights, but also to check-in, ground handling, and various airport services. ITA Airways staff will participate in the strike from 00:01 to 23:59, backed by a coalition of unions including Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uilt-Uil, Ugl TA, Anpac, and Anp. EasyJet pilots and flight attendants will also join the action, supported by the same unions, as confirmed by both La Milano and LoyaltyLobby.
The disruption will be compounded by additional strikes of shorter duration organized by Usb Lavoro Privato. On February 26, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, easyJet flight crew, ITA Airways ground and flight staff, and Vueling Airlines flight crew will stage a four-hour walkout. Ground handling and other employee groups are also set to participate in this midday stoppage, affecting all three airlines.
Travelers hoping for a reprieve during certain hours may be in luck. As LoyaltyLobby reports, Italian regulations protect flights scheduled to depart between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM, and again from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, from strike action. Typically, all long-haul flights and some regional flights to and from the islands are also excluded from the industrial action. A list of protected flights is expected to be published on Enac’s website ahead of the strike date, but passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates.
The impact on air travel is already being felt. ITA Airways has announced the cancellation of approximately 55% of its scheduled flights for February 26, with some cancellations spilling over to February 25 and 27. Importantly, no long-haul flights are included in the list of cancellations, in line with regulatory protections. The airline’s website provides a detailed breakdown of affected routes, spanning major domestic and international destinations such as Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Athens, Algiers, and Tunis, as well as numerous Italian cities including Naples, Bologna, Trieste, Turin, Venice, Bari, Florence, Catania, Palermo, and Milan.
According to ITA Airways, “Following the announcement of strike action involving the Italian air transport sector scheduled for Thursday, February 26, lasting 24 hours, ITA Airways has been forced to cancel approximately 55% of its scheduled flights for February 26 and some flights on February 25 and 27.” The airline encourages passengers to consult its official website for the most up-to-date information on cancellations and rebooking options.
Travelers affected by these disruptions are not without recourse. Under European Union Air Passenger Rights regulation EC 261/2004, staff strikes are not considered extraordinary events, meaning airlines are required to provide cash compensation to passengers facing long delays or cancellations. They must also offer rebooking to the final destination at the earliest opportunity and provide “Duty to Care” services such as accommodation and meals, regardless of the reason for the cancellation. As LoyaltyLobby points out, these rules apply to flights within the EU/EEA or the UK, with similar protections under UK 261 for travel involving the United Kingdom.
After the disruption in the skies, the industrial action will shift to the country’s railways. Rail unions have called a nationwide strike starting at 9:00 PM on Friday, February 27, and ending at 8:59 PM on Saturday, February 28. Staff from Ferrovie dello Stato (Trenitalia), Italo, Trenord, and other local rail operators will participate, threatening to bring much of Italy’s train network to a halt. However, there are guaranteed service periods for regional trains—between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM, and 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM on weekdays—when minimum essential services must be maintained, particularly for commuters. Lists of guaranteed high-speed and long-distance trains will be made available on the respective company websites, and travelers are strongly encouraged to check these resources before setting off.
Local public transport is not immune from the unrest. In Bari, workers from Ferrovie Sud Est e Servizi Automobilistici will strike on February 27 from 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM. In Turin, staff from the Arriva Italia company will stage a four-hour walkout from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the same day. These local actions add another layer of complexity for those relying on buses, trams, and regional trains to get around.
For those caught in the middle of these strikes, the advice is clear: stay informed, check travel plans frequently, and be aware of your rights. As LoyaltyLobby advises, “If you are flying with any of these three airlines on Thursday, monitor your itinerary for possible delays, cancellations, and rebookings, and keep in mind your rights.” The coming days will test the patience and resilience of Italy’s travelers, as the nation grapples with the competing demands of labor rights, public service, and the smooth functioning of its vital transport networks.
While the strikes are certainly causing headaches for many, they also reflect deeper tensions within Italy’s transportation sector—a sector that, for now, finds itself at the crossroads of industrial action and public expectation.