Italy airport strike 29 May 2026: 1,150 flights cancelled, 179,000 passengers affected
A 24-hour national strike by CUB Trasporti includes airport and ground-handling workers at every major Italian airport. This means that outside two three-hour windows in the morning and evening, the country's aviation network will largely stop.
So far, we estimate that around 1,150 flights will be cancelled on Friday 29 May, leaving around 179,000 passengers stranded. If your flight leaves Italy on Friday, or if you are travelling to Italy from elsewhere in Europe, this is what you need to know right now.
Friday by the numbers
Strike date | Friday 29 May 2026 |
Strike organiser | CUB Trasporti |
Workers covered | Airport and ground-handling staff |
Strike duration | 24 hours |
Scheduled Italy departure flights | 2,396 |
Estimated cancellations | ~1,150 |
Passengers affected | ~179,000 |
Protected departure windows | 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00 |
Out-of-window flight guarantee | 20% of scheduled services |
Intercontinental arrivals | Fully protected all day |
Intercontinental departures | 50% guarantee |
Italian island routes | At least one round-trip per day guaranteed |
Which Italy flights are cancelled on 29 May
The strike covers airport staff and ground-handling workers at all major Italian airports, including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Bergamo, Naples, and Venice.
Italian law requires airlines to keep services running during any strike, but only within two time slots set by ENAC (Italy's aviation authority):
- 07:00 to 10:00
- 18:00 to 21:00
Flights departing inside those windows should operate as scheduled. At any other time, airlines are only required to run one in five of their scheduled services.
What this means for passengers
Italy has 2,396 flights scheduled to depart on Friday. Most of these flights fall outside the two protected windows. Of those unprotected flights, 80% are expected to be cancelled.
A small number of routes have extra protection:
- Intercontinental flights arriving in Italy are fully protected throughout the day.
- For intercontinental departures, airlines must operate at least half their scheduled services.
- Airlines flying to Sardinia and Sicily must also run at least one return service each day.
What you are owed if your flight is cancelled
Two things are owed to you if your flight is affected:
- Duty of care: Regardless of what caused the cancellation, your airline must offer you a full refund within seven days or reroute you to your destination at the earliest opportunity. It must also cover the cost of meals and refreshments, and communication while you wait, plus hotel accommodation and transfers if an overnight stay becomes necessary.
- Cash compensation:EU261 entitles passengers to €250, €400, or €600, depending on the distance of your flight, but only if the airline cannot prove the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Airlines will almost certainly tell you the strike was outside their control, which means they do not have to pay compensation. However, European courts have repeatedly disagreed with airlines on this point, and passengers have won compensation in cases exactly like this one.
If an airline argues that a flight disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances, they are making a legal argument, not stating a fact. So, passengers should file a claim if they've been affected. If the airline denies your claim, ask for written justification. And if your flight is cancelled, and you don't accept a rebooking, don't accept a travel voucher if you prefer a cash refund.
What to do before you leave for the airport
Check the official list of guaranteed flights published by ENAC at enac.gov.it. This tells you whether your specific flight is legally required to operate. Do not rely on your airline's app or website. They are often slow to update and may not reflect what ENAC has published. Once you have checked, call your airline directly to understand your rebooking or refund options.
Keep every receipt from the moment your travel is disrupted: food, drinks, accommodation, taxis, transfers. Your airline is required to cover these costs and must reimburse you even if your compensation claim is still being disputed. If you are at the airport when a cancellation is confirmed, photograph the departure board straight away. That single screenshot is often the most useful piece of evidence when making a claim later.
Getting to the airport is its own problem
Friday's aviation strike is not the only disruption. A separate general strike is running on the same day, affecting trains and motorways across Italy. That matters even if your flight is inside one of the protected windows and is scheduled to operate.
Train services in and out of Rome, Milan, Naples, and other major Italian cities are expected to be significantly disrupted throughout the day. Check your route to the airport before you leave, have a backup plan ready, and allow considerably more time than usual.
If your flight has already been cancelled, check your eligibility and start your claim today.Check your flight
Author:
Joanna Teljeur
Job/Position: Senior Editor & Content Lead
Joanna Teljeur is a senior editor and writer with 15+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, and content development, specialising in consumer rights, aviation law, and public-interest reporting. Her work focuses on transforming complex regulatory and legal topics into clear, accurate, and accessible content for international audiences.
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