People should be aware that major disruptions are expected at local airports
Holidaymakers heading to Italy next month have been put on alert to brace for disruption on specific dates, as the country’s travel sector anticipates significant upheaval at airports. The chaos could result in flights being cancelled or delayed.
Italian media outlets have reported that Monday, May 11, is shaping up to be a “black day” for air travel. According to Il Sole 24 Ore, regional strikes will coincide with EasyJet’s national strike, which runs from 10am to 6pm.
The report said: “A series of protests articulated at the local level, in different sectors, which threaten to put air transport on hold. In fact, employees of airport service and security companies in Cagliari, Enav in Rome and Naples, Adr Security in Fiumicino and handling companies in Palermo will also be on strike.”
A separate bulletin from travel management firm Cisalpina Tours International added: “Rome Airport, 11/5/2026 – eight hours from 10am to 6pm. Air transport sector delays and cancellations are expected. Strike by staff at ENAV – Rome air traffic control centre.”
Kate Donnelly, a British content creator and travel business owner (@Thedonnellyedit), also posted an update on TikTok. She said: “This is the date that is going to have the biggest impact on flights, and there are a number of things that are going on. Firstly, air traffic control staff are going to go on strike at Rome’s area control centre and also at Naples.
“This is going to be an eight-hour strike; it’s going to start at 10am and finish at 6pm.” Kate also said there will be a separate Easyjet strike involving “pilots and cabin crew” but stressed this is “just within Italy” and shouldn’t affect flights elsewhere in Europe, reports the Express.
She added: “With these types of strikes, we are likely to see flight delays as well as flight cancellations, and these could be quite last-minute. It is really important that you keep checking your flight schedule, make sure you have your alerts and notifications switched on so that you stay up to date with any sudden, last-minute changes.”
She also flagged further strike action later in the month on Friday, May 29. This will sweep across Italy and cause widespread disruption to public services, including rail and road networks, with trains affected from 9pm the evening before on Thursday, May 28.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Should your flight be cancelled, it’s important to know where you stand. You are typically entitled to either a replacement flight or a full refund.
Flights departing from an EU airport, such as those in Italy, are covered under EU/UK regulations. Martin Lewis’ MSE team advise that passengers stranded abroad should be “offered an alternative flight at the earliest opportunity”, and this doesn’t necessarily have to be with the same airline.
While it does not specifically define what “the earliest opportunity” actually means, the Civil Aviation Authority states: “It is our view that passengers should be rerouted on the same day as their original flight and via the same route, but where this is not possible, their airline should instead identify alternative re-routing options which minimise the disruption to the journey plans of affected passengers. This could include travel with a different airline.”
Passengers will not be entitled to claim compensation from their airline if the delay is caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control, classed as an “extraordinary circumstance”. Industrial action by air traffic controllers, airport staff and ground handlers falls into this category, however if the strike involves airline staff directly (such as Easyjet’s pilots and cabin crew) then passengers may well have grounds to pursue a claim for additional compensation.
In other travel news, Spanish tourism bosses have issued a warning to UK holidaymakers ahead of the peak season when visitors make their trips to the country. Jordi Hereu, Spain’s Industry and Tourism Minister, told Spanish news outlet Expansion on April 27 that growth in the tourism industry could be dampened by rising flight costs.
Last year, Spain welcomed 97 million tourists through its borders, and was expected to hit the 100 million mark this year. He said: “What we’re recommending is that people buy their tickets now because it’s true that (airlines) are currently using kerosene that was purchased some time ago, and therefore there’s an element of price fluctuations involved.”
“It’s already clear that prices have risen, and this could affect demand,” he added. He went on to reassure holidaymakers that authorities were looking at ways to prevent fuel shortages as the busy summer season looms.
