The union representing Italy’s Air Traffic Controllers has confirmed that a strike (or what they refer to as an industrial action) will take place on March 30.
The strike is scheduled to only last 4 hours but nevertheless will result in cancellations and excessive delays for those traveling to or from Italy during the day. It is tentatively scheduled from 12:30p to 4:30p local time.
The union has reached out to airlines giving them an opportunity to have certain flights ‘guaranteed’. But this guarantee severely limits how many flights an airline can protect.
The strike will affect flights flying to or from Italy and will not affect flights transiting Italian airspace.
If your travels include flights within Italy on the 30th, at least you have nearly 2 weeks to develop a contingency plan or change your travel plans altogether.
Yes flying UA, Thanks for the info, I saw the france strike posted then this, started to get nervous.
Expect it to be a common theme this summer. The unions have figured out that they can hold the proverbial ‘gun’ to management and whine about anything that sounds good that day.
I have no background o how these things usually play out. I have a flight ex EWR on 3/31 landing in Milan on the morning of 4/1. How likely based on past history is it that these kind of strikes could carry over into my flight time, or that my flights could be delayed/rescheduled/etc a day later if they do keep to only a 4 hour strike?
Scott,
I think you’ll have very little to worry about since you will be arriving 2 days after the strike. Airlines will plan ahead and not be caught with aircraft out of position etc. I assume you are flying UA? Since the strike is only lasting a few hours, there’s plenty of time for operation to resume. Normally when these kind of strikes hit, its little feeder/connector flights that get punished the most. Usually long haul flights are not nearly as impacted. Have a great trip! 🙂