Italy: Air and rail strikes through July 22 /update 3

Event

Various strikes affecting air and rail travel are set to take place in the coming weeks.

On Saturday, July 21, air traffic controllers (ATCs) will be on strike nationwide for the full 24-hour period, as will employees of Techno Sky (the company that manages and maintains systems and equipment used for air traffic control). Cabin crews and pilots at Blue Panorama Airlines will also be on strike. Flight delays and cancelations are to be anticipated on this day, with residual disruptions possible July 22. However, local ATC strikes set to take place on Thursday, July 5, at Lamezia Terme (SUF) and Pescara-Abruzzo (PSR) international airports have been called off.

Various rail strikes are also set to take place. On July 6, employees at Trenord (the company that operates regional passenger trains in the Lombardy region) will be on strike from 09:00 to 17:00 (local time). Employees at Trenitalia (the national rail service) will be on strike in the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions from 03:00 on July 8 until 02:00 on July 9. Finally, a national strike involving employees at Trenord, NTV (a privately-run high-speed train operator), and FSI (a group that oversees the country’s rail network) will run from 21:00 on July 21 until 21:00 on July 22. Delays, modified timetables, last-minute cancelations, and overcrowding on available trains are to be anticipated during the above periods. Increased road congestion in urban areas is also possible.

Context

Transportation-related strikes are common in Italy. However, in accordance with Italian law, minimum levels of services must be guaranteed during all strikes.

Advice

Travelers are advised to confirm flight and rail reservations on the above days and allow for extra time to reach their destinations.