On September 30, 2026, a national strike by Italy’s air navigation provider ENAV and its technology subsidiary Techno Sky disrupted flights across the country. The industrial action lasted four hours from 1pm to 5pm local time. The Italian civil aviation authority mandated protected operating windows for flights between 7am and 10am and 6pm and 9pm to ensure some continuity during the strike.
Local Airport Strikes Amplify Disruptions
Alongside the national strike, additional local strikes occurred at major Italian airports including Bologna, Milan Linate, Naples, and Bari. Flight cancellations and delays were reported during and beyond the main strike window, with knock-on scheduling effects expected throughout
the day.
Mount Etna Volcanic Activity Grounds Flights at Catania
Catania Airport in Sicily suspended flight operations until 3pm on September 29 due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna. This suspension led to cancellations on multiple routes including departures to Manchester, Rome, and Venice. The airport authority advised passengers to confirm flight status with airlines before traveling to the airport.
EasyJet Announces Strikes in Portugal Affecting Lisbon, Porto, Faro
EasyJet cabin crew based in Portugal, represented by the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), declared strike actions from October 2 to 6 and again from December 19 to 23, 2026. These strikes are expected to disrupt approximately 500 flights originating from Lisbon, Porto, and Faro
airports. EasyJet criticized the union’s demands as unworkable and emphasized ongoing efforts to minimize passenger impact, including preemptive cancellations to facilitate travel plan adjustments.
UK Air Traffic Control Failure Causes Wide Flight Cancellation
Earlier in September 2026, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) in the United Kingdom suffered a major failure of its flight processing system. The incident caused over 1,000 flight cancellations across 15 UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham. NATS CEO Martin Rolfe committed to a thorough investigation of the technical failure. The event stranded numerous passengers, with reports of prolonged delays and extended ground time on aircraft.
European air travel in September 2026 has faced
compounded challenges from industrial strikes, volcanic disruptions, and system failures. Additionally, ongoing strikes in France and rollout issues related to the European Union’s Entry/Exit System have further complicated air traffic across the continent.
Passengers traveling through Italian airports during the September 30 strike experienced flight cancellations and delays. The volcanic disruption at Catania added to travel difficulties with cancellations on key international routes. EasyJet customers in Portugal also face future travel impacts from upcoming cabin crew strikes. Earlier UK air traffic control issues affected hundreds of thousands of passengers at major British airports.
