On 16 October 2026, a technical failure in Italy’s main radar data transmission network supporting air traffic control caused flight cancellations and delays starting from the morning. ENAV, Italy’s national air navigation service provider, detected the fault overnight between 15 and 16 October 2026. Initially, backup satellite systems relayed information to maintain operations.
Airspace Restrictions and Athens Capacity Reduction
From 6:00 a.m. local time on 16 October 2026, ENAV introduced flow management measures due to the growing air traffic and persistent fault. These measures temporarily reduced Italy’s airspace capacity to handle aircraft. The disruption also led to a 50% reduction in hourly flight capacity at Athens
International Airport, causing delays in arrivals and departures linked to late flights from Italy.
Cancellations and Delays at Rome Fiumicino Airport
Rome Fiumicino Airport canceled four flights scheduled for Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana, and Trieste. Additionally, around 20 other flights experienced delays ranging from 15 to 60 minutes. Airport authorities advised passengers to verify their flight status with airlines.
Disruptions at Milan and Bergamo Airports
At Milan Malpensa Airport, departure delays ranged between 30 minutes and over two hours, while arrivals were less affected. Milan Linate Airport saw arrival delays of up to one hour, with some departures delayed even longer. Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo recorded a Ryanair flight to Trapani
departing approximately 90 minutes late and another Ryanair flight to Berlin delayed by one hour and 20 minutes. A Volotea flight from Olbia was delayed, arriving at 11:18 a.m. instead of the scheduled 7:45 a.m.
Flight Disruptions at Trieste Airport
Trieste Airport experienced cancellations and postponements on 16 October 2026. A morning flight from Rome Fiumicino was canceled, and a Trieste to Milan Linate flight was delayed by several hours due to the ongoing network issues.
ENAV confirmed the fault was not a result of cyberattack or sabotage. The agency stated, “From 6:00, in view of the steady increase in air traffic and the persistence
of the faults, in order to continue guaranteeing the highest level of operational safety, flow management measures have been introduced, which mean a temporary reduction in the capacity to handle aircraft in Italian airspace.” Prior to 6:00 a.m., normal air traffic management continued without any capacity reduction.
Airport operators urged passengers impacted by cancellations and delays at Italy’s major airports, including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Naples Capodichino, Orio al Serio, and Trieste, to check the status of their flights directly with airlines. The disruption also affected flights passing through Italian airspace, leading to knock-on delays across Europe.
