Italian Airport Strikes: Travel Chaos Or Smooth Sailing?

Italy has experienced several airport strikes, with one notable incident occurring on July 17, 2022, causing significant travel disruption. This particular strike involved employees of low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Volotea, as well as air traffic controllers, and led to the cancellation of 500 flights. The strike was part of a series of protests demanding better pay and improved working conditions, including meals during long shifts. While Italy's airports have generally seen less chaos than other Western European countries, the summer travel surge and ongoing labour disputes have created challenges for both airlines and passengers.

500 flights cancelled

On July 17, 2022, around 500 flights were cancelled in Italy due to a four-hour aviation strike by employees of low-cost airlines and air traffic controllers. The strike, which took place at the peak of the vacation season, caused significant disruption for passengers across the country.

The Italian transport ministry stated that the strikes were called by workers of Ryanair, EasyJet, and Volotea airlines, beginning at 2 pm (1200 GMT) and lasting for four hours. Meanwhile, the air traffic controllers' walkout started an hour earlier, also lasting for four hours.

According to a union official, Fabrizio Cuscito, the airline workers were demanding better pay and improved working conditions, including meals during long shifts. He told Italian state TV that approximately 500 flights were cancelled due to the strike.

The strikes in Italy came amid ongoing chaos at airports across Europe, with passengers experiencing cancellations and significant delays. The Italian government had previously warned passengers to "travel light" to avoid long queues at check-in counters and baggage recovery.

National carrier ITA cancelled 133 flights, including domestic and some European destinations such as Madrid, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. Ryanair and Vueling also cancelled dozens of flights due to the strike, which lasted from 10 am to 6 pm. The strike affected travellers at the height of the tourist season, causing inconvenience and frustration as they were forced to make alternate plans.

Aviation workers seek better pay

Aviation workers in Italy have embarked on a series of strikes in pursuit of better pay and improved working conditions. On July 17, 2022, Italy experienced a wave of four-hour walkouts by employees of low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Volotea, alongside air traffic controllers. These strikes, occurring on a peak vacation travel day, resulted in the cancellation of several hundred flights across the country.

A union official, Fabrizio Cuscito, disclosed to Italian state television that approximately 500 flights were cancelled due to the industrial action. The strikes highlighted the growing discontent among aviation workers regarding their pay and working conditions. They demanded not just improved remuneration but also basic provisions like meals during long shifts.

The Uiltrasporti union asserted that pilots and flight attendants from low-cost airlines were enduring "continuing unacceptable conditions". They accused EasyJet of unjustified dismissals and Volotea of lowering minimum wages. The unions also criticized the Italian air navigation service provider, ENAV, for its "manifest inability to communicate and manage personnel", underscoring the management issues exacerbating the workers' grievances.

The aviation strikes in Italy are part of a broader trend of industrial action within the country's transportation sector. In recent weeks, there have been a series of protests demanding better pay and conditions, with the summer holiday season providing a strategic backdrop for workers to exert pressure on employers and the government. The strikes have had a significant impact on travellers, causing cancellations and delays, and highlighting the need for improved working conditions and remuneration for aviation workers.

Ryanair, easyJet, Volotea workers walk out

Ryanair, easyJet, and Volotea workers walked out on strike in Italy, causing the cancellation of 500 flights on Sunday, 17 July 2022. The industrial action lasted four hours, from 2 pm to 6 pm, and was carried out by pilots and flight attendants from the three low-cost airlines. The strike also involved air traffic controllers from Italy's ENAV group, who staged a separate four-hour walkout beginning at 1 pm.

The strike caused significant disruption to passengers, particularly as it occurred on a peak vacation travel day during the busy summer holiday season. It was the latest in a series of protests in Italy over pay and working conditions. Airline workers were seeking better pay as well as improved working conditions, including meals on long shifts.

Unions representing the striking workers cited "continuing unacceptable conditions" and poor pay as reasons for the walkout. They accused EasyJet of unjustified dismissals and Volotea of lowering minimum wages. The unions also criticised the air traffic controller provider, Enav, for their "inability to communicate and manage personnel".

In response to the strike, the Italian government warned passengers to "travel light" to avoid long queues at check-in counters and when recovering their belongings. The strikes added to the chaos already being experienced at airports across Europe, with travellers facing cancellations and significant delays.

Air traffic controllers' strike

Air traffic controllers in Italy staged a four-hour strike on July 17, 2022, between 1 pm and 5 pm local time. The industrial action affected several airports, including Milan, Rome, Bologna, Naples, and Turin Caselle. The strike was called by unionized air traffic controllers demanding better pay and improved working conditions, including meals on long shifts.

The walkout occurred during a peak vacation travel day, causing the cancellation of several hundred flights. According to a union official, Fabrizio Cuscito, approximately 500 flights were scrapped due to the strike. The Italian transport ministry confirmed that, in addition to the air traffic controllers' strike, workers from Ryanair, easyJet, and Volotea airlines also held a four-hour strike beginning at 2 pm, adding to the travel disruption.

The strike action in Italy was part of a series of protests across the country in recent weeks over pay and conditions. Unions representing pilots and flight attendants from the low-cost airlines accused the companies of ""unacceptable working conditions," including unjustified dismissals and lowered minimum wages. The unions also criticized the management of Italy's air navigation service provider, ENAV, for their "inability to communicate and manage personnel" effectively.

While Italian law mandates minimum levels of essential services during labor strikes, disruptions to flights could extend beyond the scheduled end time as staff work to clear any backlog of flights. Passengers were advised to contact their airlines to confirm flight status and to arrive at the airport early to prevent their seats from being reassigned.

Previous strikes in June

Italy is a country prone to transport strikes, with summertime often being the peak season for them. This causes commuters and tourists alike to be stranded as unions press demands for better work contracts and conditions. In June 2023, Italy saw a series of transport strikes that impacted both rail and air travel.

On an unknown date in June, a nationwide train strike took place, which was followed two days later by an air transport strike that caused hundreds of flight cancellations across the country. This strike was carried out by air transport unions and included pilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers, and airport personnel. National carrier ITA cancelled 133 flights, most of them domestic, but also some to European destinations. Low-cost airlines Ryanair and Vueling also cancelled dozens of flights due to the strike, which lasted from 10 am to 6 pm. The strike affected major airports in Naples, Rome, and Leonardo da Vinci, causing travellers to have to make alternate plans.

Labour unions Filt Cgil, Uiltrasporti, and Ugl Trasporto cited "absolutely unsatisfactory" contract disagreements with Malta Air, which operates Ryanair flights, as the reason for the strike. They apologised for the inconvenience caused to customers, stating that it was not their goal to create inconvenience, but to press for better work conditions. The Italian government was criticised for waiting until the last minute to meet with the unions to renew work contracts.

The air transport strike in June was not an isolated incident, as Italy has a history of transport strikes during the summer peak season. These strikes can cause significant disruption to travellers, especially during times of high tourism. It is always advisable for travellers to check for any planned strikes or disruptions before commencing their journey.

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