Will Italy's air transport strikes ground easyJet and Vueling flights on Friday?

Passengers traveling to, from, or within Italy face significant flight disruption on Friday, January 9, 2026. A cluster of strikes by airline and airport staff is set to impact operations across the country. Travelers should prepare for potential delays and cancellations.

Airline and Airport Staff Walkouts

Italy-based pilots and cabin crew for British budget carrier easyJet plan a 24-hour walkout. This industrial action stems from ongoing disputes over wages and working conditions. Spanish budget airline Vueling also faces an eight-hour strike by its flight attendants. This Vueling action is scheduled from 10:00 to 18:00 local time.

Compounding the airline issues is a series of airport staff protests. Employees of Assohandlers, which manages ground handling services nationwide, plan a four-hour strike. This walkout will run from 13:00 to 17:00. Separately, workers at Swissport Italia and Airport Handling are staging a 24-hour protest. These companies provide operational and ground handling services at Milan’s Linate and Malpensa airports. Milan's major hubs are therefore at highest risk of severe disruption. Ground handling stoppages can slow check-in, baggage drop-off, and aircraft turnaround times.

Protected Flight Windows and Passenger Rights

Despite the widespread industrial action, Italy's Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) guarantees minimum service. Flights scheduled during specific fasce di garanzia (protected windows) must operate as normal.

• Morning Protected Window: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• Evening Protected Window: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

These protected time bands are designed to mitigate the worst effects of nationwide strikes. Airlines often retime schedules to fit within these windows. However, knock-on delays can still spill outside these hours.

Past strikes involving ground handling and airline staff have led to significant cancellations. For example, a similar strike in March 2025 involving Vueling and Assohandlers-associated companies resulted in about 150 cancelled flights. A January 2025 strike affecting Milan airports caused around 200 cancellations, impacting over 30,000 passengers. This historical data suggests a high probability of major operational impact.

Advice for Affected Travelers

Passengers booked on affected flights should check their flight status immediately. Airlines are advising travelers to consult their carrier’s website before heading to the airport. Travelers should also build in extra time for check-in and security.

Under Europe's Air Passenger Rights (EU Regulation 261/2004), passengers have specific entitlements if their flight is cancelled or significantly delayed. If flying within the EU, or from an EU country to a non-EU one, passengers may be entitled to a refund or rebooking. This right also applies if the operating airline is EU-licensed, even on flights inbound from a non-EU country. However, compensation is typically not due if the disruption is proven to be an “extraordinary circumstance,” such as a strike. For more commercial aviation news and updates, visit flying.flights.