Key dates: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in autumn 2024

People travelling to, from or across Italy may face disruption over the coming weeks as trade unions have called multiple walkouts affecting air, rail and public transport services.

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Transport strikes are common during Italy’s autumn months, and this year will be no exception as unions representing airport, airline, rail and public transport staff have announced multiple walkouts which may affect the travel plans of both international visitors and locals.
Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on a handy online calendar (available in Italian).
Here’s a look at the walkouts that you should know about if you’re travelling to, from or across Italy in the coming weeks.

October 11th – Traffic controllers’ strikes at multiple airports
Passengers flying to or from Milan Linate, Palermo Falcone and Borsellino, Bari Karol Wojtyła and Brindisi Papola Casale may face disruption on Friday, October 11th, as staff at air traffic control agency Enav and its subsidiary, Techno Sky, plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm.
Under national strike laws, services scheduled to depart from 7am to 10am and from 6pm to 9pm are protected from strike action and should therefore go ahead as normal on Friday, according to Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority.
October 12th – 24-hour nationwide rail staff strike
Train passengers in Italy may experience delays and/or cancellations over the second weekend of October as rail staff around Italy plan to strike for 24 hours – from 9pm on Saturday, October 12th, to 9pm on Sunday, October 13th.
The walkout may impact both regional and long-distance trains run by state operator Trenitalia, as well as journeys operated by private company Italo.
While rail operators are legally required to guarantee a number of minimum services (servizi minimi) during strikes taking place on weekdays, there’s no such requirement for weekend walkouts.
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October 18th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Public transport passengers may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, October 18th, as staff at operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours. 
As it’s often the case with public transport walkouts in Italy, the level of disruption faced by passengers should vary from city to city depending on the number of transport workers participating in the protest.
Under national strike laws, public transport companies are required to guarantee the operation of a number of essential services (servizi minimi) during staff strikes. Further information on such services is expected to become available closer to the date of the walkout.
October 27th – Easyjet airline strike
Pilots from budget airline Easyjet plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday, October 27th. 
Passengers travelling with Easyjet on that day are advised to check the status of their flight with the airline.
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November 8th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Travellers may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, November 8th, as public transport operators around the country are scheduled to strike for 24 hours.
The level of disruption to services is expected to vary by city and transport company.
Further details on guaranteed services should become available nearer the day of the strike.
How bad are strikes in Italy?
Strikes in Italy are frequent but not all of them cause significant disruption for travellers.
The severity of disruption caused by any strike in the country largely depends on how many staff in any part of the transport sector decide to participate.
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And, even in the case of highly disruptive strikes, some essential services (servizi minimi) are guaranteed to run at peak times. 
This goes for all transport sectors, from local public transport to rail and air travel.
Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.

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Transport strikes are common during Italy’s autumn months, and this year will be no exception as unions representing airport, airline, rail and public transport staff have announced multiple walkouts which may affect the travel plans of both international visitors and locals.
Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on a handy online calendar (available in Italian).
Here’s a look at the walkouts that you should know about if you’re travelling to, from or across Italy in the coming weeks.
October 11th – Traffic controllers’ strikes at multiple airports
Passengers flying to or from Milan Linate, Palermo Falcone and Borsellino, Bari Karol Wojtyła and Brindisi Papola Casale may face disruption on Friday, October 11th, as staff at air traffic control agency Enav and its subsidiary, Techno Sky, plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm.
Under national strike laws, services scheduled to depart from 7am to 10am and from 6pm to 9pm are protected from strike action and should therefore go ahead as normal on Friday, according to Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority.
October 12th – 24-hour nationwide rail staff strike
Train passengers in Italy may experience delays and/or cancellations over the second weekend of October as rail staff around Italy plan to strike for 24 hours – from 9pm on Saturday, October 12th, to 9pm on Sunday, October 13th.
The walkout may impact both regional and long-distance trains run by state operator Trenitalia, as well as journeys operated by private company Italo.
While rail operators are legally required to guarantee a number of minimum services (servizi minimi) during strikes taking place on weekdays, there’s no such requirement for weekend walkouts.
October 18th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Public transport passengers may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, October 18th, as staff at operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours. 
As it’s often the case with public transport walkouts in Italy, the level of disruption faced by passengers should vary from city to city depending on the number of transport workers participating in the protest.
Under national strike laws, public transport companies are required to guarantee the operation of a number of essential services (servizi minimi) during staff strikes. Further information on such services is expected to become available closer to the date of the walkout.
October 27th – Easyjet airline strike
Pilots from budget airline Easyjet plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday, October 27th. 
Passengers travelling with Easyjet on that day are advised to check the status of their flight with the airline.
November 8th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Travellers may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, November 8th, as public transport operators around the country are scheduled to strike for 24 hours.
The level of disruption to services is expected to vary by city and transport company.
Further details on guaranteed services should become available nearer the day of the strike.
How bad are strikes in Italy?
Strikes in Italy are frequent but not all of them cause significant disruption for travellers.
The severity of disruption caused by any strike in the country largely depends on how many staff in any part of the transport sector decide to participate.
And, even in the case of highly disruptive strikes, some essential services (servizi minimi) are guaranteed to run at peak times. 
This goes for all transport sectors, from local public transport to rail and air travel.
Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.