Italy’s Confirmed Airport Strikes on Friday January 10: How to Prepare Delays and Cancellations

Joanna Teljeur

By:  Joanna Teljeur

1 minutes read

Last Updated:  February 13, 2026

This Friday, staff at Italy’s Venice Marco Polo, Milan Linate, and Milan Malpensa airports are set to strike for 24 hours.  

Italian media are referring to the day as Black Friday (Venerdi Nero) because, in addition to the airport strikes, travellers heading to Milan and Rome face strikes by the bus, train, subway, and tram services in the two cities.  

The strike is likely to cause outright flight cancellations and significant flight delays that may qualify for EU compensation affecting countless passengers in Italy as well as in other regions. 

Over the past several months, the aviation industry in Italy has seen considerable unrest from its workforce. Last summer staff at numerous airports went on strike affecting thousands of travellers. This latest action by Italian airport baggage handlers could seriously disrupt travel for days to come - even after January 10.   

While airports in Italy may bring in outside staff to replace the striking baggage workers, these new personnel are typically less experienced than regular staff. As a result, the baggage handling process will be much slower than usual, ultimately leading to delays.

When numerous flights are delayed, then knock-on effects begin to happen, meaning that the strike will not only affect flights in Italy but inbound and outbound flights from around the world. 

To prepare for delays and other flight disruptions, be sure to pack a change of clothing as well as any essentials in your cabin baggage. Also, download your airline’s mobile app and sign up for email and SMS alerts so you’ll stay on top of how these strikes might impact your travel plans.

Also, remember that if your flight is cancelled or delayed, you should always ask airline agents what caused it and take note of their answer. This will be invaluable supporting evidence if you choose to file a claim for compensation. You can also check to see if your flight is eligible for compensation in our free flight compensation calculator tool.

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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