Italy experienced a major disruption in air traffic control on the night of October 15-16, 2026, due to a fault in the country’s airport data transmission network. This technical failure impacted the main radar data transmission system used for air traffic control and led to widespread flight cancellations and delays across several Italian airports and beyond.
Timeline and Response to the Network Fault
The fault was detected overnight between October 15 and 16, 2026. Initially, air traffic operations in Italy continued using a backup satellite system, allowing normal management without capacity reduction. However, with air traffic increasing on the morning of October 16, Italian air traffic authorities
introduced flow management measures at 6 a.m. local time. These measures temporarily reduced the capacity for handling aircraft in Italian airspace to ensure safety.
Delays and Cancellations at Major Italian Airports
Rome’s Fiumicino–Leonardo da Vinci Airport encountered cancellations and delays affecting both domestic and international flights. Four flights from Rome were canceled, including services to Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana, and Trieste. Additionally, around 20 other flights experienced delays ranging from 15 to 60 minutes.
Milan Malpensa Airport faced departure delays between 30 minutes and over two hours, while arrivals experienced less significant disruptions. Milan Linate Airport saw arrival delays of up to one hour, with some departures
delayed even longer. Naples Capodichino Airport was also affected, though specific delays there were less detailed.
Flight Delays at Secondary Airports Including Bergamo and Trieste
Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo reported multiple delays, including a Ryanair flight to Trapani departing about 90 minutes late and a Ryanair flight to Berlin delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes. A Volotea flight from Olbia scheduled to arrive at 7:45 a.m. was pushed back until 11:18 a.m.
Trieste Airport experienced both cancellations and postponed flights. A morning Rome Fiumicino arrival-departure flight was canceled, while a flight from Trieste to Milan Linate was postponed for several hours.
Broader Impact on European Airports including Athens International
The technical fault also affected
flights passing through Italian airspace, extending disruptions beyond Italy. Athens International Airport experienced a reported 50% reduction in hourly flight capacity, significantly impacting both arrivals and departures. Delayed flights from Italian airports further caused ripple effects at Athens airport.
Official Statements and Passenger Advisories
ENAV, Italy’s air navigation service provider, confirmed that the fault was linked to the main radar data transmission network. The use of backup satellite systems maintained partial operations overnight without capacity reduction. However, as traffic volumes increased from 6 a.m., flow management procedures were implemented to guarantee safe aircraft handling. ENAV dismissed any connection between the fault and cyberattacks or sabotage.
According to ENAV, “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.”
Passengers were urged to verify their flight status with airlines before traveling, as airlines communicated ongoing delays and cancellations. Italian authorities have not set a timeline for full restoration of the air traffic control system, citing ongoing investigations to identify and resolve the fault.
