Italy: Air traffic controllers to strike 14:00-18:00 July 17

Event

Unionized air traffic controllers plan to embark on a four-hour strike across much of Italy between the hours of 14:00-18:00 July 17. The labor action will affect the Milan, Rome, Brindisi, and the Padua area control centers, as well as at Bologna (BLQ), Lamezia Terme (SUF), Naples (NAP), Perugia (PEG), Pescara (PSR), Brindisi (BDS), Ciampino (CIA), and Turin Caselle (TRN) airports. The work stoppage will likely lead to numerous flight disruptions; however, the strike probably will not be crippling as Italian law mandates minimum levels of essential services during labor actions.

Disruptions could extend for several hours beyond the strike's scheduled end time as staff resume their duties and deal with any backlog of flights.

Advice

Contact airlines to confirm flight status if booked to fly via Italian airports July 17. Do not check out of accommodations until onward travel is confirmed. Arrive at the airport early to prevent your seat from being allocated to a standby passenger.