On October 16, 2026, a technical failure in Italy’s airport data transmission network disrupted air traffic control systems, leading to multiple flight cancellations and delays across major airports. ENAV, Italy’s national air navigation service provider, confirmed overnight faults affecting the country’s primary radar data transmission but ruled out cyberattack or sabotage.
Flight Restrictions and Airport Delays in Italy and Athens
From 6 a.m. local time on October 16, air traffic services introduced flow management measures to reduce aircraft capacity in Italian airspace. This action aimed to maintain operational safety amid increasing air traffic and persisting system faults. Rome Fiumicino Airport cancelled four flights destined for Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana,
and Trieste, while approximately 20 other flights faced delays between 15 and 60 minutes.
Milan Malpensa Airport experienced departure delays ranging from 30 minutes up to more than two hours, with lesser disruptions on arrivals. Milan Linate Airport reported arrival delays of up to one hour and departures delayed longer than that. Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo also saw significant delays: a Ryanair flight to Trapani departed 90 minutes late, another Ryanair flight to Berlin was delayed by one hour and 20 minutes, and a Volotea flight arriving from Olbia was rescheduled from 7:45 a.m. to 11:18 a.m.
Trieste
Airport had a morning cancellation of a flight from Rome Fiumicino and postponed a Trieste to Milan Linate flight by several hours. Athens International Airport, affected by delayed arrivals and departures due to flight disruptions in Italy, reduced its hourly flight capacity by 50% amidst the ripple effect.
Backup Systems and Passenger Advisories
ENAV utilized a backup satellite system to relay air traffic control data following the malfunctions. While initial operations used this backup without reducing capacity, persistent faults and increased traffic prompted temporary capacity restrictions from 6 a.m. Passengers at affected airports were advised to check their flight statuses with airlines as disruptions could
extend through the day. ENAV has not provided a timeline for complete restoration of normal traffic management.
Specific Flight Disruptions and Official Statements
Flight disruptions detailed include Ryanair’s Trapani service delayed by 90 minutes and its Berlin route delayed by one hour and 20 minutes. Volotea’s flight from Olbia was deferred by nearly four hours. 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
organization also emphasized that before these measures commenced, there was normal air traffic management without a reduction in operating capacity.
