On 26 September, nationwide strikes will affect multiple flights to and from Italy. The strike, called by two of the country’s largest trade unions — CUB Transporti and USB — is expected to last 24 hours, affecting airline crews and airport staff.
The walkout is expected to significantly impact Milan’s Linate and Malpensa airports. Other airports, such as Sardinia’s Cagliari Elmas Airport, will also be affected by the disruptions. It could disrupt more than 100 flights and up to 20,000 travellers between the UK and Italy.
Ground operations will face disruptions, with luggage handlers from Assohandlers (serving easyJet and Ryanair) stopping work from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Moreover, drivers at Milan airports will strike for the whole day, which could lead to more operational delays. Security staff at Cagliari Elmas Airport are also participating in the full-day strike.
— Milan Airports (@MiAirports) September 26, 2025
On top of that, pilots and cabin crew from budget airlines Volotea and Wizz Air Malta will join the strike due to concerns over low wages and poor working conditions. CUB Transporti has also criticised airports for failing to provide backpay for Sunday work, for discrepancies in vacation day wages, and for not covering employees’ laundry expenses.
“It’s time for the companies that have so far refused to compensate workers at Linate, Malpensa and Bergamo airports to pay what they owe, and the other companies in the entire national aviation, airport and related industries to recognize workers’ rights,” union organisers wrote in a statement.
Malpensa bloccata area cargo dai manifestanti per Gaza Non un chiodo per Israele pic.twitter.com/2xKYiR6c3c
— AGTW (@AGTW_it) September 26, 2025
However, the workers’ actions are not only a protest about labour rights but also a sign of international solidarity. The strike includes a blockade of cargo gates and a demonstration “in support of the Palestinian people and in defence of workers’ real wages. Enough is enough!” On their website, the union condemned what it called “ferocity of the Israeli military action” in Gaza and criticised the Italian government for “turning a blind eye” to the crisis.
Although the strike involves many workers, not every flight will be affected. Italy’s civil aviation authority, ENAC, has confirmed that flights scheduled between 7:00-10:00 am and 6:00-9:00 pm are guaranteed to operate. These hours are considered protected slots, meaning flights within these windows will go ahead as planned.
#BREAKING #Italy A general strike began today in Italy, organized by trade unions in support of Palestine and in protest against Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) September 22, 2025
The strike affects nearly all sectors, including public transport, railways, ports, schools, and public services. pic.twitter.com/UtCarfYseN
Travellers outside of these hours are likely to face cancellations and delays due to the scale of the strike. In an X post, Milan Airports wrote that they “invite passengers to contact the airline in order to check their flight status before going to the airport.”
This walkout is just the first of a series of travel interruptions scheduled for October 2025. A nationwide rail strike is set to run from 9:00 pm on 2 October until 9:00 pm on 3 October, adding to the disruption for travellers. Additional airport staff stoppages are scheduled for 13 October at Rome Fiumicino, Pisa, and Florence airports. Meanwhile, on 29 October, Milan Linate is expected to face another strike, this one involving Swissport Italia ground handling staff.
