Italy’s air traffic control system suffered a technical fault detected overnight between October 15 and 16, 2026, resulting in a temporary reduction of air traffic handling capacity by up to 50 percent from 6:00 local time on October 16. ENAV, Italy’s national air navigation service provider, implemented flow management measures to maintain operational safety while addressing the malfunction in the air traffic control data transmission network.
Flight delays of up to 60 minutes and cancellations were reported across several major Italian airports including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Naples Capodichino, and Bergamo. At Rome Fiumicino, four flights bound for
Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana, and Trieste were cancelled. Milan and Naples airports also experienced delays impacting numerous routes.
Official responses and safety assurances
ENAV confirmed the technical fault was not caused by malicious activity such as cyberattacks or sabotage and emphasized that flight operations remained safe during the disruption. Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) and Milan airport operator SEA issued warnings to passengers about the nationwide technical challenges and the potential for flight schedule disruptions. ENAV 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.” The authority also confirmed that normal traffic management was maintained without reductions until 6:00 on October 16.
Restoration of full air traffic capacity
To address the fault, ENAV switched operations to a secondary satellite network, enabling a complete restoration of Italy’s air traffic control capacity by 14:16 GMT on October 16. This transition allowed air navigation services to resume full functionality across the national network.
Broader impact across European airports
The reduction in Italy’s air traffic handling capacity caused a ripple effect across European airspace, affecting operations at airports beyond Italy’s borders.
While the specific European airports outside Italy affected were not detailed, the disruption contributed to wider delays and cancellations throughout Europe during the day. Italian airports serving Milan and Bergamo were notably impacted, further amplifying scheduling interruptions.
