Italy’s national air navigation provider ENAV and its technical subsidiary Techno Sky held a four-hour strike on September 30, 2026, from 1pm to 5pm local time. The industrial action affected flight operations across Italy, including key airports in Bologna, Milan Linate, Naples, and Bari. Italian law mandates protected flight periods from 7am to 10am and 6pm to 9pm, during which flights were required to operate normally.
Flight cancellations at Catania Airport due to volcanic ash
Catania Airport in Sicily suspended all flight operations until 3pm on September 29, 2026, after volcanic activity from Mount Etna caused hazardous ash emissions. Several departures were cancelled, impacting routes to cities such as
Manchester, Rome, and Venice. The airport authority advised passengers to confirm flight status directly with airlines before traveling to the airport.
UK air traffic control failure prompts investigation
Earlier in September 2026, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) in the United Kingdom experienced a major technical failure of its flight processing system. The disruption led to over 1,000 flight cancellations across airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham. NATS provides air traffic control services to 15 UK airports. CEO Martin Rolfe committed to a comprehensive investigation into the incident’s causes.
easyJet cabin crew strikes scheduled in Portugal
easyJet cabin crew members in Portugal represented by the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) announced
strikes from October 2 to 6 and December 19 to 23, 2026. These industrial actions are expected to ground around 500 flights, affecting operations at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports. easyJet expressed disappointment at the strike plans, citing ongoing mediation efforts and current pay levels exceeding the Portuguese national average. The airline is taking steps including pre-emptive cancellations to reduce passenger impact.
Broader disruptions across Europe
Disruptions across Europe during September and October 2026 extend beyond air travel. French rail workers joined strikes protesting government budget measures, adding to transportation delays. Additionally, deployment of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System has caused processing delays at
major European hubs. The compounded effects of air traffic control failures, volcanic activity, and industrial action are significantly impacting travel throughout the continent.
Flight cancellations and delays during the Italy strike period, combined with earlier volcanic disruptions and ATC failures, have caused extensive network delays. The four-hour strike window is expected to generate knock-on effects on flight schedules throughout the day. Thousands of passengers were affected by suspended operations at Catania Airport and related diversions. Travel disruptions at multiple airports emphasize the growing operational challenges in European airspace and infrastructure.
