ROME — Holiday‐makers eyeing a weekend escape between the United Kingdom and Rome, Milan or Venice may want to pack a healthy dose of patience. A new round of industrial action by flight and ground crews in Italy is scheduled for Friday and threatens to ground or delay more than 100 departures and arrivals, placing as many as 20,000 seats in limbo.
What’s happening and where
Two low-cost carriers, Wizz Air and Volotea, have unionized employees set to walk off the job at several major Italian airports. Labor groups have announced a 24-hour strike, a length of time long enough to throw airline schedules into disarray even after the picket lines disperse. While organizers did not publish a complete list of airfields, previous stoppages of this kind have hit Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice Marco Polo, Naples Capodichino and Catania Fontanarossa—hubs that collectively handle a large share of the roughly 100 daily flights that link Italy and the U.K.
Protected time slots offer only partial relief
Italy’s civil aviation authority, ENAC, mandates that certain “essential service” flights must still operate. The protected windows run from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time. Carriers generally publish a list of guaranteed departures on their websites, and ENAC hosts a consolidated timetable. Travelers should keep in mind, however, that even flights inside the safe corridors can be delayed if aircraft or crews are out of position after earlier cancellations. Disruptions on Friday could ripple into Saturday and Sunday as airlines scramble to reposition jets in time for peak summer demand.
Potential impact on U.K. passengers
Between London and Italy alone, airlines schedule approximately 100 flights each day. Add services from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol, and the seat count climbs quickly. One grounded aircraft can upset hundreds of onward connections, and Friday’s strike falls just as school holidays begin for many British families. “There are around 100 daily flights between Italy and the U.K., so even a single-day strike can cascade into later delays,” Ivaylo Danailov, chief executive of claims firm SkyRefund, said during a call with reporters. Danailov’s data team calculates that up to 20,000 passengers might face changes to their weekend itineraries if every threatened cancellation materializes.
Who pays if your flight is disrupted?
Under European Union Regulation 261/2004, compensation eligibility depends on whether the airline could have avoided the disruption. Walkouts by airline staff—such as Friday’s Wizz Air and Volotea actions—are typically considered within the carrier’s control. That means travelers whose flights are axed may claim up to €250 for journeys of 1,500 kilometers or less, and €400 for longer intra-EU routes. Airport-employee strikes, by contrast, are usually classified as “extraordinary circumstances” that absolve airlines from the cash-compensation portion of EU261. They still owe customers a refund or the earliest available reroute, plus meals and overnight accommodation when applicable. “Regardless of whose strike causes it, you are still entitled to a refund or a replacement flight if your flight is cancelled,” Danailov said during the same call.
What Wizz Air and Volotea passengers should do now
- Monitor your booking: Carriers must notify customers of any cancellation at least 14 days in advance to avoid EU261 compensation. Expect real-time updates by email or app push notification.
- Check guaranteed flights: Visit ENAC’s website or the airline’s travel alert page for the list of departures protected between 7 a.m.–10 a.m. and 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
- Hold off on self-rebooking before the strike date unless instructed. Airlines usually allow free date changes or refunds once schedules are finalized.
- Keep receipts for meals, transfers and hotel stays if delays stretch overnight; you can claim reasonable expenses later.
- Allow extra airport time: Security and bag-drop queues often swell during labor actions, even when your specific flight is still operating.
Tips for Travelers
Know your rights: Compensation rules differ depending on whether airline personnel or airport staff walk out. Consult EU261 guidelines before filing a claim.
Document everything: Take screenshots of delay notifications, keep boarding passes, and note actual arrival times; these serve as evidence.
Use airline apps: Mobile tools frequently show gate changes and revised schedules faster than airport departure boards.
Consider travel insurance: Policies that cover labor unrest may reimburse additional costs beyond EU261 entitlements.
Have a backup plan: Rome and Milan have multiple airports; low-cost carriers sometimes reroute passengers to a different field with short notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my flight definitely be cancelled?
No. Airlines often trim operations in advance to concentrate resources on the busiest periods, and the ENAC windows ensure at least some connectivity.
How soon will I know?
Wizz Air and Volotea typically publish final strike-day timetables 24–48 hours ahead. Keep checking the “flight status” tool on their websites.
Can I claim compensation if my flight is delayed rather than cancelled?
For airline-staff strikes, delays of three hours or more at arrival may trigger a payout under EU261.
What if I booked through a third-party site?
Your contract of carriage is with the airline, so compensation claims must go directly to the carrier, even if an online travel agency handled the reservation.
Do rail alternatives exist?
Yes. High-speed Trenitalia and Italo trains link Rome, Milan, Venice and Florence with domestic and cross-border services. Eurostar connections from Paris or Brussels can get you to London by rail if flights falter.
Outlook for the summer
Labor unrest has become a regular feature of Europe’s peak-season sky. French air-traffic-control stoppages in the spring forced thousands of diversions, and German ground-handling strikes briefly crippled Frankfurt and Munich. Analysts warn that inflation, staffing shortages and new union contracts could spark further actions through August. Euronews notes that Italian unions have already penciled in additional “mobilization days” later in July, although exact dates remain under negotiation. Travelers booking Italian getaways in late summer should therefore add generous connection buffers or opt for flexible fares. For now, Friday’s strike is confined to Wizz Air and Volotea employees, but wider participation cannot be ruled out. Keep tabs on developments through official airline channels and trusted news outlets.
— as Danailov said during a call with reporters.
