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Italy Flight Strike: 200 easyJet Flights to UK Cancelled

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 16, 2026•3 min read

Four simultaneous industrial actions paralyzed Italy's aviation system on Friday (16/10/2026). easyJet cabin crew went on a 24-hour strike, ENAV air traffic controllers stopped work for four hours, while security staff at Venice Airport and ground staff at Pisa–Florence airports also walked out. Around 200 easyJet flights from the UK to Rome and Milan were canceled.

Key Facts

Friday, October 16, 2026: four industrial actions hit Italian aviation simultaneously — a 24-hour easyJet cabin crew strike (00:00–23:59), an ENAV ATC strike from 13:00–17:00 Italian time, a walkout by security staff at Venice Marco Polo Airport, and a strike by ground staff at Pisa and Florence airports.
The USB Lavoro Privato union triggered a strike by easyJet cabin crew; the dispute centers on the renewal of a contract signed on 15 September.
Around 200 easyJet flights from the UK (Gatwick, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Luton, Leeds Bradford) to Rome and Milan were cancelled; ITA Airways cancelled 13 direct London–Italy flights.
Italy's aviation authority (ENAC) has established protected windows: flights departing between 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00 Italian time are required to operate.
In England, Leeds Bradford Airport entered the second day of a three-day strike by security officers (16–18 October).
Saturday, October 17, the French flight strike began: pilots and cabin crew of Air France, Transavia France, and Corsair went on a five-day strike until October 21.

Four Simultaneous Strikes Paralyze Italian Skies

Italy's aviation system was paralyzed on Friday (16/10/2026) due to four simultaneous industrial actions. The largest action was a 24-hour strike by easyJet cabin crew in Italy, which began at midnight and lasted until 23:59 local time.

At the same time, Italian air navigation service provider ENAV held a four-hour work stoppage from 13:00 to 17:00. Security staff at Venice Marco Polo Airport also staged a 24-hour walkout, while ground staff at Pisa and Florence airports went on a full-day strike.

200 UK Flights Cancelled

The biggest impact was felt by passengers in the UK. Around 200 easyJet flights from the UK to Rome and Milan were cancelled, covering routes from Gatwick, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Luton, to Leeds Bradford. ITA Airways also confirmed the cancellation of 13 direct flights between London and several cities in Italy.

The strike was triggered by the USB Lavoro Privato union. The dispute centers on the contract renewal signed on September 15 — USB accused the results of the internal vote of being published late and said their request for observation was rejected. The strike, initially scheduled for October 15, was moved to October 16.

ENAC-Protected Windows and Passenger Rights

Italy's civil aviation authority (ENAC) has designated two protected time windows: all flights departing from Italy between 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00 local time are required to operate. Outside those hours, flights risk cancellation depending on worker participation.

Passengers whose flights are canceled are entitled to a refund or a replacement flight. Because the strike is carried out by the airline's own employees, the European Union's passenger rights rules (EU261) apply — passengers could potentially receive compensation of up to 600 euros, depending on the flight distance and arrival delay.

Strike Wave Continues to France

The European aviation crisis has not stopped in Italy. Starting Saturday (17/10/2026), French flight strikes begin: pilots and cabin crew of Air France, Transavia France, and Corsair will walk out for five days until 21 October, right at the peak of the Toussaint school holidays.

The good news is that the French air traffic controller (DGAC) strike was successfully avoided after an agreement was reached in the final minutes, so airspace disruptions from the ATC side are not expected to occur. Passengers flying to, from, or transiting Europe in the next few days are advised to monitor flight status regularly.