Over 160 flights were cancelled and delayed at Milan, Venice, Pisa, and Florence airports as a nationwide strike in Italy brought air travel to a standstill, disrupting major airlines including Air France, Lufthansa, United, Turkish, Austrian, and SAS. The strike, driven by demands for greater public investment and reduced military spending, triggered widespread walkouts across the transport sector—grounding planes, halting trains, and stranding passengers just as the peak summer travel season intensifies. With airport ground crews, baggage handlers, and air traffic support staff participating, the impact rippled across Europe-bound and long-haul routes, leaving travelers scrambling and airlines overwhelmed.

This latest industrial action, called by several grassroots unions, paralyzed both air and rail travel just as the summer tourism season begins to peak. Travelers flying in or out of Italy on Friday faced mounting frustration as essential transportation services were heavily reduced, and in some cases, completely shut down for hours at a time.

Milan Malpensa Bears the Brunt

Milan’s Malpensa International Airport, one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs, faced the highest disruption. A total of 31 flights were cancelled, while 58 others were delayed, including several transatlantic and regional routes. Of these, 2 cancellations and 4 delays involved flights to or from the United States, affecting major players like United Airlines and American Airlines.

Ryanair alone saw 10 flight cancellations, while Austrian Airlines was forced to cancel 40% of its scheduled departures. Lufthansa, Air France, and Brussels Airlines were all hit with multiple cancellations, alongside smaller European carriers such as Cityjet, Helvetic, and Buzz. Even premium carriers like Korean Air and Qatar Airways were not immune, reporting at least one delay each.

easyJet, which operates a significant number of short-haul routes from Malpensa, recorded 34 delayed flights, accounting for nearly a quarter of its daily operations there.

Venice Marco Polo Hit by Dual Disruptions

Over at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport, 19 flights were cancelled and 15 delayed, compounding problems for passengers heading to and from Italy’s iconic lagoon city. Striking ground staff and air traffic disruptions particularly impacted Ryanair, which lost 8 flights, and Air France, which scrapped 4.

United Airlines reported delays on at least 2 flights, while Delta, Austrian Airlines, and KLM also experienced disruption. The ripple effect of the walkout extended to Turkish Airlines, Smartwings, Eurowings, and Qatar Airways, each facing delays ranging from 16% to 50% of their operations.

As one of the top gateways into northeastern Italy and a hub for European holidaymakers, Marco Polo’s slowdown dealt a major blow to both domestic and international schedules.

Pisa and Florence See Grounded Operations Too

Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa recorded 14 flight cancellations and 12 delays, with Ryanair once again dominating the disruption list. The budget carrier, which handles a large share of Pisa’s traffic, cancelled 14 flights and delayed several more. Other airlines affected included Aer Lingus, Jet2, easyJet, and Norwegian.

Meanwhile, Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport — though smaller in scale — still experienced 10 cancellations and 5 delays, further compounding the nationwide impact. Vueling, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss were among the carriers forced to cancel multiple flights. KLM and Air France each registered minor delays as their operations buckled under the strain of reduced staffing.

Strike Brings Countrywide Disruption Across Sectors

The general strike, which began at 9 p.m. on June 19 and was set to last until late June 20, extended far beyond the airports. Italy’s FS Italiane rail network also faced mass cancellations, affecting long-distance Frecce, Intercity, and regional trains. Only a limited number of essential services were guaranteed during peak commuter hours, leaving thousands stranded or confused at key transport hubs like Milan Centrale.

Frustrated travelers flooded social media to express their dismay, with reports of foreign tourists “abandoned” at stations with no clear explanation. “It’s incomprehensible,” wrote one user from Milan. “There are hundreds of tourists here who don’t understand what is happening.”

Rome’s Fiumicino Airport also issued alerts, warning passengers that rail connections to and from the airport could be affected, and advising travelers to check flight statuses before heading out. The city’s public transport network adjusted its operations, guaranteeing services only during select time windows in the morning and evening.

Unions Call for Better Investment, Not Militarization

The strike was organized by a coalition of grassroots unions including USB, CUB, SGB, FISI, and FLAI. Their demands focused on redirecting national funds from military spending to vital sectors such as healthcare, public transport, education, and workplace safety. The walkout included staff from both public and private sectors and disrupted everything from air traffic control to tram and metro services in major cities like Rome, Milan, and Naples.

In Milan, transport authority ATM guaranteed limited operations between 6 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., while Rome’s ATAC promised availability between 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and again between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

ITA Airways Forced to Ground Flights

Flag carrier ITA Airways wasn’t spared either. The airline cancelled 34 domestic and international flights, including key routes connecting Rome and Milan to London. While some services were still operating during protected time slots under Italian labor law, the overall impact left many fliers scrambling to rebook or seek alternative travel options.

Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC reminded travelers that flights during 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00 are protected under national regulations, but carriers are not obligated to provide alternatives outside these hours during strikes. (TTW)