A series of strikes in Italy on Thursday 10 July are expected to disrupt air travel, following the announcement of a 24-hour work stoppage by baggage handlers.
Members of Assohandlers, the national union of airport handling service providers, will stop work for 24 hours, from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm, as will easyJet flight crews across the country and members of the Lombardy airport workers’ union Flai Trasporti e Servizi. Security staff at Cagliari airport will also strike for four hours on Thursday, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
The industrial action by Assohandlers, in particular, is expected to cause significant disruption as its member companies – including Airport Handling, Aviapartner, Aviation Services, Swissport and BGY International Services – operate at several Italian airports, including the hubs of Milan, Rome and Venice.
The authorities in Venice and Milan have issued warnings of possible delays and flight cancellations, while the national airline ITA Airways has confirmed the cancellation of 36 flights scheduled for 10 July.
In accordance with Italian law, during the strike, essential services will continue to be provided, with flights scheduled between 7:00 and 10:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00 operating as planned. The Italian National Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) has also published a list of flights that are normally scheduled.
Daily flights to the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Lampedusa have also been exempted from the strike, according to ENAC.
