AirHelp data published on 9 February 2026 show that Italy logged 383 delayed and 13 cancelled flights on 7 February across Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Bergamo and Catania airports. Ryanair bore the brunt, with 121 affected services, followed by ITA Airways and easyJet. Average departure delays during the morning peak exceeded 55 minutes.
Ground-handling unions blame a cocktail of post-pandemic staffing gaps, slot congestion linked to Carnival travel demand and heavy Tyrrhenian-coast rainfall. Airport operators deployed reserve ramp crews and de-icing units, but airlines still loaded “preventive cancellations” into reservation systems to reset crew rotations.
![Nearly 400 Flight Disruptions Hit Italy’s Major Hubs Ahead of Carnival Rush]()
Corporate itineraries were hit hard: Milan Fashion Week fittings, pharmaceutical congresses in Bologna and wine-sector trade shows in Verona all reported missed connections. Travel managers are being urged to build four-hour buffers into same-day connections, consider routings via Venice or Naples and verify weather clauses before claiming EU261 compensation (most weather-related delays do not trigger payouts).
Observers warn that the incident is a stress test for the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System, which will add biometric checks at non-Schengen desks from April. Without extra staffing, similar operational strains could snowball when leisure traffic peaks in June.
Practical tips: monitor flights 24 and 3 hours before departure, opt for fully changeable corporate fares through mid-February, and remind travelling staff that airlines must still provide meals and accommodation during long delays—even when compensation is not due.
Ground-handling unions blame a cocktail of post-pandemic staffing gaps, slot congestion linked to Carnival travel demand and heavy Tyrrhenian-coast rainfall. Airport operators deployed reserve ramp crews and de-icing units, but airlines still loaded “preventive cancellations” into reservation systems to reset crew rotations.
Corporate itineraries were hit hard: Milan Fashion Week fittings, pharmaceutical congresses in Bologna and wine-sector trade shows in Verona all reported missed connections. Travel managers are being urged to build four-hour buffers into same-day connections, consider routings via Venice or Naples and verify weather clauses before claiming EU261 compensation (most weather-related delays do not trigger payouts).
Observers warn that the incident is a stress test for the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System, which will add biometric checks at non-Schengen desks from April. Without extra staffing, similar operational strains could snowball when leisure traffic peaks in June.
Practical tips: monitor flights 24 and 3 hours before departure, opt for fully changeable corporate fares through mid-February, and remind travelling staff that airlines must still provide meals and accommodation during long delays—even when compensation is not due.
Source: AirHelp
