Italy is experiencing a national strike on September 30, 2026, affecting air navigation services provided by ENAV and its technology subsidiary Techno Sky. The industrial action, scheduled from 1pm to 5pm local time, impacts flight operations at major airports such as Milan Linate, Naples, Bologna, and Bari.
Italian law mandates protected flight operation windows during the strike day, from 7am to 10am in the morning and 6pm to 9pm in the evening. Despite this, the strike is causing widespread cancellations and delays, with knock-on effects expected throughout the day across airports nationwide.
Volcanic Ash Disrupts Flights at Catania Airport
On September 29, 2026, Catania Airport in Sicily
suspended all flight operations due to volcanic ash activity from Mount Etna. The suspension lasted until 3pm local time, during which multiple flights to destinations including Manchester, Rome, and Venice were cancelled. Passengers were advised to confirm flight status with their airlines before traveling to the airport.
Previous UK ATC Technical Failure and Impact
Earlier in September, the UK faced significant air traffic disruptions caused by a major technical failure in the flight processing system operated by National Air Traffic Services (NATS). The disruption affected 15 airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham, resulting in hundreds of cancelled flights and extended delays. NATS CEO Martin Rolfe committed
to a thorough investigation into the incident.
Upcoming easyJet Cabin Crew Strikes in Portugal
easyJet cabin crew based in Portugal, organized under the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), announced strike actions planned for October 2-6 and December 19-23, 2026. These strikes are expected to cause flight cancellations and delays at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports. easyJet stated ongoing mediation efforts but criticized the union demands as unworkable given crew pay above the Portuguese average.
European Travel Disruptions and Industry Context
The Italian strike adds to a wave of travel disturbances in Europe amid industrial action and technical issues. France continues to experience transport sector strikes impacting rail and other services.
Meanwhile, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout earlier this year remains a source of processing delays at certain major European airports.
