On the morning of October 16, 2026, Italy’s air traffic control faced a significant disruption as faults in the data transmission network caused delays and cancellations across multiple airports. The disruption affected operational capacity throughout Italian airspace.
Enav Implements Flow Management to Reduce Aircraft Capacity
The Italian government agency Enav, responsible for air navigation services, introduced flow management measures starting at 6:00 AM to maintain operational safety amid increasing air traffic and persistent network faults. These measures temporarily reduced the capacity to handle aircraft in Italian airspace by approximately 50 percent.
Flight Delays and Cancellations at Key Italian Airports
Rome Fiumicino Airport was notably affected, cancelling at least four flights bound for Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana,
and Trieste. Additional flights experienced delays of up to 60 minutes. Similar operational disruptions, including delays and cancellations, took place at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Naples Capodichino airports, reducing their air traffic management efficiency during the disruption.
Enav Rules Out Cyberattack and Investigates Network Faults
Enav confirmed the faults originated within the data transmission network and ruled out any cyberattack or sabotage as the cause. 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.” Enav is actively investigating the network faults while working to restore full air traffic control capacity.
Authorities advised travelers affected by the disruption to verify their flight status with the respective airlines. Efforts to resolve the network issues continued throughout the day as air traffic control operations gradually aimed to return to normal levels.
