A 24-hour national strike by public- and private-sector workers on 30 June forced flag-carrier ITA Airways to ground 32 domestic and international flights, the airline confirmed on its website and in a statement carried by La Sicilia. The industrial action, part of a wider protest over pay and working conditions, involved flight crews, ground staff and service-provider personnel, snarling operations at Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate and several regional airports. ITA said affected passengers can rebook without penalty or request a refund if their flight was cancelled or delayed by five hours or more. Travellers must submit the change by 6 July. The carrier also advised all customers flying on strike days to verify flight status before heading to the airport. While ENAC’s minimum-service rules kept early-morning and evening slots operating, mid-day departures suffered the bulk of cancellations, causing missed connections for transfer traffic and forcing airlines to consolidate services. Competing carriers reported manageable delays but warned of possible loading-factor imbalances as ITA passengers sought last-minute alternatives. For corporate mobility teams the episode is a reminder to build strike clauses into travel policies, pre-book flexible fares and use real-time traveller-tracking tools. The walk-out comes just days before the peak summer season and amid separate threats of ground-handling and security stoppages scheduled for 5 July. Labour experts note that Italy experienced a 30 % increase in aviation strike hours in the first half of 2026 as unions push for contract renewals ahead of expected consolidation in the airline sector.
Source: La Sicilia
