Airline passengers flying to, from or across Italy could face delays or cancellations on Wednesday, October 29th, due to air transport strikes including walkouts by staff at Vueling and KLM.
Italy-based pilots and cabin crew at Spanish budget airline Vueling planned to strike from 1pm to 5pm on Wednesday as part of an ongoing dispute over wages and working conditions.
Airport ground staff at Dutch airline KLM and French flag carrier Air France were set to stage a separate four-hour walkout (from 12pm to 4pm) on the same date.
Italian media reports on Monday warned that inbound and outbound flights operated by any of the three affected airlines may experience delays or cancellations due to the planned protests.
Italian news media also advised passengers scheduled to travel with Vueling, KLM or Air France on Wednesday to check the status of their flights with the relevant airline before leaving for the airport.
No carrier had made any official announcement regarding the upcoming walkouts as of Monday morning.
Besides the above-mentioned airline strikes, Italy’s air transport sector was also expected to be hit by multiple airport staff protests on Wednesday.
Baggage handlers, check-in assistants and boarding operators at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa were set to strike for 24 hours over wages and work contract renewals.
Handlers at Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci and Pisa’s Galileo Galilei also planned to take part in a 24-hour walkout on Wednesday.
READ ALSO: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in November 2025
Italian media reports said that the planned strikes could result in flight delays or cancellations at any of the affected airport hubs.
The protests may also cause delays in ground operations including baggage drop-off and collection services, they added.
No airport had announced flight cancellations as of Monday morning.
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Which flights are guaranteed?
Flights scheduled to depart between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm are protected from strike action in Italy.
READ ALSO: What are my rights in Italy if a flight is cancelled or delayed?
These services were expected to operate as normal on Wednesday, according to Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority (Enac).
What to do if your flight is cancelled
If you’re flying within the EU or from an EU country to a non-EU one, you may have the right to either a refund or rebooking under Europe’s Air Passenger Rights.
This also applies to passengers travelling from non-EU countries to EU countries if the operating airline is licensed in the EU.
Find full details HERE.