Travelers across Italy are bracing for considerable disruptions as airlines and handling service workers prepare for a massive 24-hour strike scheduled for February 5, 2025. Announced by the unions Flai Trasporti e Servizi and Usb Lavoro Privato, the strike is expected to significantly affect air travel, involving numerous airports and impacting thousands of passengers hoping to fly on what is being termed "Black Wednesday."
The strike will commence at midnight and continue throughout the day, with operational disruptions manifesting between the hours of 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM for staff at SEA Prime operating at Milan Linate Airport. Airports anticipated to be directly affected include Milan Malpensa, Bologna, Catania, and many others nationwide. These disruptions are not merely localized, as participants from multiple airport handling companies affiliated with Asshandlers will join the action, including Airport Handling and Aviapartner among others.
Details provided by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport list two separate strike events on February 5. The first, lasting from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, will affect personnel based at Linate, and will be followed by the national strike involving multiple airports.
Travelers intending to use these services need to be wary of cancellations and delays, particularly as the Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile (ENAC) has outlined specific protected time frames when flight operations will still take place: from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. During these windows, travelers are advised to arrive at the airport early and monitor their flights through the respective airline websites.
"We encourage all passengers to check their flight statuses regularly and arrive at airports well before their scheduled departure," said the ENAC. "With workers crossing their arms, the possibility of flight alterations hangs heavily over all travel plans."
For those whose flights are canceled or delayed, rights under the European Regulation No. 261/2004 will apply, offering options for alternative arrangements or refunds. This regulation includes provisions like rebooking on the next available flight, meals during extended delays, and accommodations if overnight stays are necessary due to rescheduling.
Check to see if you are affected by the strike: ITA Airways has already confirmed the cancellation of 26 flights between national and international destinations. Affected flights include popular routes such as Palma to Milan and several from Milan to other major cities. Travelers are encouraged to contact their airlines or travel agents to address flight statuses directly.
The strike's impact is likely to extend beyond typical airport operations, affecting train services as well. Trenord, responsible for regional train services, is also staging a separate strike which may create additional travel chaos for passengers dependent on connections between air and rail transport on the same day, from 3:00 AM until 2:00 AM the following morning.
Summary information on the expected disruptions indicates likely mass cancellations across multiple sectors, similar to those seen during recent strikes across Italy’s transportation networks. While minimum service guarantees do exist during strike periods, passengers who are traveling are advised to stay informed, as updates can change rapidly.
Both the airline and rail union strikes revolve around negotiations and calls for improved working conditions and pay. Passengers should continually monitor their travel plans leading up to February 5 as negotiations may evolve.