Passengers flying to, from or across Italy may face delays or cancellations on Wednesday due to two separate walkouts affecting staff at British airline EasyJet and baggage handlers at Milan airports.
On the same day, taxi services in cities including Rome, Naples and Turin may be significantly limited due to a series of strikes by local drivers.
Here’s an overview of what to expect.
EasyJet strike
Italy-based pilots and flight attendants employed by British budget airline EasyJet plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm to demand improved working conditions, enhanced workplace safety measures and better shift management.
EasyJet flights headed to or departing from Italy may experience significant delays or cancellations due to the walkout. However, some services are set to operate as normal under Italy’s air transport laws (see below).
As of Wednesday morning, the carrier had not announced any flight cancellations.
READ ALSO: KEY DATES: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in June 2025
There is currently no publicly available information specifying the number of EasyJet employees represented by Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), the trade union backing Wednesday’s walkout.
That said, USB is one of the largest Italian unions operating in the air travel sector alongside CGIL, CISL and Uiltrasporti.
This means that the strike may see a high participation rate, with travellers facing a significant level of disruption.
Passengers planning to travel with EasyJet on Wednesday are advised to check the status of their flight with the airline before setting off for the airport.
Baggage handlers’ strike at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa
Flights to and from Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa may experience delays on Wednesday, as baggage handlers at both airports plan to strike for four hours – from 1pm to 5pm.
The walkout shouldn’t affect flights’ scheduled arrival or departure times but may cause delays in ground operations including check-in and baggage drop-off or collection services, according to the latest Italian media reports.
Passengers meant to depart from either airport on Wednesday are advised to leave extra time for their journeys.
Which flights are guaranteed?
Under Italian air transport laws, flights scheduled to depart between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm are protected from strike action.
These services should therefore go ahead as normal on Wednesday, according to Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority (Enac).
What to do if your flight is cancelled
If you're flying within the EU or from an EU country to a non-EU one, you may have the right to either a refund or rebooking under Europe's Air Passenger Rights.
READ ALSO: What are my rights in Italy if a flight is cancelled or delayed?
These also apply to passengers travelling from non-EU countries to EU countries if the operating airline is licensed in the EU.
Find full details HERE.
Taxi strikes
Besides the above-mentioned air transport strikes, taxi services in Rome, Naples, Turin, Bari and Lamezia Terme (Calabria) may be significantly limited on Wednesday due to walkouts by local drivers.
Drivers in Rome, Naples, Turin and Lamezia Terme are expected to hold a 24-hour strike, whereas drivers in Bari plan to walk out from 9am to 9pm.
Four of the five city-wide strikes were called by Italian trade union USB, which cited the “improper use” of licences issued to private car hire companies such as Uber and Freenow as the main reason behind the protest.
Though there aren't any publicly available details on how many workers plan to participate in the strikes, Italian media reports warned that the involved cities may see severely reduced taxi services on Wednesday.
People planning to use taxi services on this date should be prepared to find alternative means of transport.
Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.
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