Flag-carrier ITA Airways has activated its disruption protocol after confirming that the 11 May national strike will force the cancellation of roughly 38 percent of its schedule. A customer notice posted on 8 May directs passengers to an online list of affected flights and sets out waiver rules: travellers booked for 11 May may change dates without penalty or seek a full refund if their flight is cancelled or delayed by five hours or more. Tickets can be reissued until 18 May via call-centre or original travel agency. The carrier says it is proactively re-routing some customers on protected flights within the legally exempt time bands. For long-haul itineraries, ITA is offering free rebooking on partner airlines in the SkyTeam joint-venture network, subject to seat availability. Frequent-flyer status extensions will apply automatically to members unable to travel. Beyond the strike, ITA has extended its suspension of services to Dubai, Tel Aviv and Riyadh until 31 May because of security concerns in the Middle East, a decision affecting corporate itineraries that rely on Rome and Milan as connectors to the Gulf region. Travel-management companies are advising clients to anticipate knock-on delays on 12 May as aircraft and crews reposition. Companies with critical staff mobility are urged to invoke duty-of-care procedures, monitor the ITA website’s “Flight Status” tool and ensure that visas and hotel bookings can be re-dated without fees.
Source: ITA Airways
