People travelling to, from or across Italy could face major delays or cancellations next month, as trade unions have announced walkouts affecting air, rail and local public transport services.
Italy has seen little in the way of transport strikes in August, partly because of the so-called franchigia estiva – a nearly six-week-long ban on airline walkouts intended to protect the country’s lucrative travel and tourism industry.
But like pretty much everything else in the country, transport walkouts will start up again in early September, with Italian trade unions recently announcing a number of protests set to affect air, rail and local public transport services.
Here’s a look at the major strikes that you should know about if you’re travelling to, from or across Italy in September.
September 4th-5th – Nationwide rail strike
Train passengers in Italy may face disruption in early September, as staff at operators including Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord plan to strike from 9pm on Thursday, September 4th, until 6pm on Friday, September 5th.
The walkout was called by two of Italy’s major trade unions, SGB and PDM/PDB, to demand better working conditions for train drivers and conductors, increased safety on railway construction sites, and a new collective labour agreement for the entire rail sector, according to Italian media reports.
The strike is set to affect both long-distance and regional lines, with the overall level of disruption expected to vary by region, city and operator.
Under Italian transport laws, rail operators are required to provide a minimum level of service during strikes to allow commuters to travel to and from work. Details on guaranteed services are expected to become available closer to the strike.
Advertisement
September 4th – Public transport strike in Rome
Public transport passengers in Rome could experience delays or cancellations on Thursday, September 4th, as staff at Atac plan to stage a four-hour strike (from 8.30am to 12.30pm).
The walkout is expected to affect all Atac services, including metro, bus and tram journeys.
September 6th – Airline and airport staff strikes
Italy’s air transport sector is set to be hit by several airline and airport staff strikes on Saturday, September 6th.
Italy-based pilots and cabin crew at British budget carrier EasyJet plan to strike for 24 hours on Saturday as part of an ongoing dispute over wages and working conditions.
Airport ground workers, including security staff, baggage handlers and cleaners, are set to go on a nationwide four-hour strike on the same date, with the protest expected to start at midday and end at 4pm.
Advertisement
Other staff walkouts are also expected at major Italian airports, including Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino.
Flights to, from and across Italy may experience delays or cancellations due to the planned walkouts. Ground operations such as check-in and baggage collection may also be affected by delays.
Under Italian air transport laws, flights scheduled to depart between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm are protected from strikes, meaning they should run as normal on Saturday.
Further details on guaranteed flights are expected to be published on the website of Italy’s civil aviation authority (ENAC) closer to the date of the strike.
September 8th – 24-hour public transport strike in three Sicilian cities
Public transport services in the Sicilian cities of Enna, Palermo and Catania are set to be hit by a 24-hour strike on Monday, September 8th.
Services operated by Segesta, Autolinee Russo, Etna Trasporti and Interbus may experience delays or cancellations due to the strike, according to Italy’s transport ministry.
Advertisement
Anyone planning to travel by public transport in Enna, Palermo or Catania on Monday is advised to leave extra time for their journey and check the service status of the relevant operator before leaving.
September 26th – National air transport strike
Passengers flying to, from or across Italy may see their travel plans disrupted on Friday, September 26th, due to a 24-hour air transport strike.
The national walkout, which was called by Italy’s CUB union, is expected to involve both airline and airport staff, including baggage handlers and security officers.
Italy-based pilots and cabin staff at Spanish budget airline Volotea plan to stage a 24-hour strike on the same date.
Under Italian air transport laws, flights scheduled to depart between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm are protected from strikes and should operate as normal on Friday.
Further details on guaranteed flights are expected to be published on the website of Italy’s civil aviation authority (ENAC) closer to the date of the strike.
Advertisement
How bad are strikes in Italy?
Transport strikes are frequent in Italy, but not all of them result in major disruption for passengers.
The severity of disruption caused by any walkout in the country largely depends on the number of workers choosing to participate in it.
Nationwide protests backed by one or more major trade unions tend to have a bigger impact, as they represent more workers than smaller regional unions.
Even in the case of highly disruptive strikes, however, transport operators are legally required to guarantee some essential services at peak travel times.
It’s also worth noting that most strikes in Italy are planned and announced well in advance, with the Italian transport ministry listing them on an online calendar.
This usually gives commuters and international visitors some time to arrange alternative means of transport or, when possible, reschedule their journeys.
Advertisement
What to do if your flight is cancelled
If you’re flying to, from or within the EU, you have the right to either a refund or rebooking, and the airline must always offer you the choice.
If you’re booked onto a later flight and have to wait more than two hours, you’re entitled to assistance, including food and drink.
And in the case of cancellations at short notice, you may also be able to claim compensation. Find full details HERE.
What to do if your train is cancelled
If a pre-booked rail service is cancelled due to strike action in Italy, passengers are given the option to travel on an equivalent service or ask for a full refund.
READ ALSO: Can I get a refund in Italy if my train is cancelled because of strikes?
Private long-distance operator Italo and state-owned Trenitalia issue refunds automatically within 30 days of the cancelled trip.
Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.
Tags:
- italy