Italy’s national air navigation provider ENAV and its technology subsidiary Techno Sky are conducting a four-hour strike on September 30, 2026, from 1pm to 5pm local time. Italian law mandates protected flight operating periods from 7am to 10am and 6pm to 9pm on the strike day, during which flights should remain unaffected. Despite these protections, the strike has led to widespread delays and cancellations at airports across Italy.
Strikes at Major Italian Airports and Broader European Impact
Local strike actions are also affecting Milan Linate, Bologna, Naples, and Bari airports on September 30. These disruptions at key hubs are expected to impact not only domestic but also international flights,
potentially causing knock-on effects across interconnected European routes outside the strike hours.
Recent Flight Disruptions in Italy from Volcanic Activity
On September 29, Catania Airport in Sicily cancelled multiple flights, including routes to Manchester, Rome, and Venice, due to volcanic ash fallout from Mount Etna. The airport suspended all flight operations until 3pm local time, requesting passengers to verify their flight status with airlines prior to traveling.
UK Air Traffic Control Failures and Consequences
Earlier in September, the United Kingdom suffered a major air traffic control (ATC) system failure affecting the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) network of 15 airports. This technical issue led to over 1,000 flight cancellations, heavily disrupting operations at Heathrow, Gatwick,
Manchester, and Birmingham airports. NATS Chief Executive Martin Rolfe committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
easyJet Cabin Crew Strikes in Portugal
easyJet cabin crew in Portugal, represented by the SNPVAC union, announced strike action scheduled from October 2 to 6 and again from December 19 to 23, 2026. These stoppages are in response to workplace condition disputes and are expected to result in the cancellation of approximately 500 flights departing and arriving at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports. easyJet expressed disappointment over the strikes, emphasizing ongoing mediation efforts and stating their cabin crew wages remain significantly above the Portuguese national average. The airline
has initiated some early cancellations to allow passengers to adjust travel plans.
Passenger Disruptions and Official Advisories
Travelers flying through Italian airports faced cancellations and delays on September 30 due to the ENAV and Techno Sky strike. Catania Airport continued experiencing effects from volcanic ash disruptions. Additionally, flights in Portugal are at risk during easyJet’s upcoming strike periods. Passengers affected by these events have encountered itinerary changes and operational interruptions.
Industry Statements on Strikes and ATC Failures
easyJet criticized the SNPVAC union strike plans, highlighting the airline’s willingness to maintain dialogue through DGERT mediation and their efforts to balance employee requests with business sustainability. NATS leadership assured stakeholders of an exhaustive review
following the UK ATC failure earlier in the month.
Regional Transport Challenges Amidst Multiple Disruptions
These air travel disruptions add to recent European transportation challenges, which have included volcanic eruptions, air traffic control malfunctions, and labor strikes beyond aviation sectors, such as rail and public transport in France. Implementation difficulties with the EU’s Entry/Exit System have also caused delays at major hubs across the continent.
