Italy Prepares for Aviation Strike on June 13: What easyJet and Other Flight Passengers Should Check

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 07:38

Italy Prepares for Aviation Strike on June 13: What easyJet and Other Flight Passengers Should Check

Lead. On Saturday, June 13, 2026, several strike actions are planned in Italy's aviation sector. The greatest risk concerns easyJet flights, as the carrier's Italian pilots and cabin crew are expected to stop work from 06:00 to 24:00. Separate disruptions are also possible in Verona, Cagliari, and Milan Linate airport. For tourists, this does not mean the automatic closure of all Italian airports, but it does mean the need to check flight status in advance, avoid overly short layovers, and know which services the airline must provide in case of delay or cancellation.

The topic is important right now because the strike falls on a summer Saturday, when Italy receives a large flow of tourists, and many passengers fly not only to Rome, Milan, or Naples, but further—to the islands, resort regions, or transit through Italian airports. According to the official strike calendar of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, several aviation protests are listed for June 13, including a strike by ENAV staff at Verona Airport, a four-hour action by Sky Service in Milan-Linate, and two national actions related to easyJet Airlines Limited staff.

What Exactly is Confirmed for June 13

The official register of the Italian transport agency indicates that a strike by ENAV staff at Verona Airport is planned for June 13 from 06:00 to 24:00. Such an action can affect not only a single carrier but also the airport's operational capacity to handle arrivals and departures throughout the day. Separately, the calendar notes a strike by Sky Service employees working on the western apron of Milano Linate airport from 12:00 to 16:00. Even a local ground action can create delays during aircraft servicing, boarding, disembarking passengers, or baggage handling.

The broadest impact may come from the strike of Italian flight crew of easyJet. In the MIT register, actions by pilots and cabin crew of easyJet Airlines Limited are listed, and ENAC has separately published a list of guaranteed flights for the national easyJet staff strike on June 13 lasting 18 hours—from 06:00 to 24:00. This means that easyJet passengers with flights to, from, or within Italy should not rely solely on general news, but check their specific flight number in the airline's app or on its website.

Italian RaiNews, citing ANSA, also describes June 13 as a day of several parallel aviation protests: easyJet, Linate, Cagliari, and Verona. It is important to phrase this carefully: it is not about a complete cessation of air traffic in Italy, but about a set of actions that may overlap. This combination creates the risk of cascading delays: one aircraft is delayed from a previous flight, the crew or slot shifts, and passengers on subsequent destinations see the change later in the day.

Which Flights Should Be Protected

ENAC reminds that during aviation strikes in Italy, guaranteed time windows are in effect. Flights in the intervals 07:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00 must be operated. This does not cancel the need to check the status of a specific flight, but gives passengers an important guideline: if the trip can still be changed, flights during these hours are usually less risky than flights in the middle of the day.

In the rules for minimum guaranteed service, ENAC also states that outside the protected time windows, minimum functionality must be maintained for some operations, and a minimum level of work is provided for airport services. Critically important categories of flights are separately guaranteed: state, emergency, medical, humanitarian, as well as specific connections necessary for the transport accessibility of the islands. For a tourist, this means that the word "strike" does not equal "all flights cancelled," but it also does not guarantee a normal schedule for every commercial flight.

Practically, the highest risk is for easyJet flights in the interval from 10:00 to 18:00, as well as operations at airports where local ground or dispatcher actions occur simultaneously. If the route includes Verona, Cagliari, or Milan-Linate, it is worth checking not only the airline's website but also airport information. If the route goes through large hubs, such as Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Malpensa, Naples, or Venice, it is useful to additionally monitor the departure and arrival boards: our site provides Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) online boards, Milan-Malpensa (MXP) online boards, Naples (NAP) online boards, and Venice (VCE) online boards.

What Passengers Should Do Before Leaving for the Airport

The best tactic is to check the flight several times, rather than once the day before. Status can change after crew plan updates, confirmation of guaranteed flights, or the appearance of an alternative aircraft. If the airline offers a flight change without a penalty, it is worth evaluating not only the new departure time but also all subsequent logistics: hotel check-in, train connections, car rental, transfer, or cruise.

  • Check your booking in the official app or on the airline's website, rather than just in an email from an agency.
  • Save boarding passes, flight change notifications, and status screenshots—they may be needed for claims to the airline or insurance.
  • If you have a layover, check if both segments are in one booking. Separate tickets create a higher risk of missing the next flight.
  • Do not plan critically important events immediately after arrival: weddings, cruises, paid tours, or long car trips are better planned with a time buffer.
  • If the flight is morning or evening, still arrive at the airport with plenty of time: the protected window reduces the risk of cancellation, but does not eliminate queues and operational delays.

For those arriving in Rome or Milan and having an important onward journey, it is worth having a "Plan B" in advance. For example, after a late arrival at FCO, it may be appropriate to check hotels near Rome-Fiumicino airport, and for travelers through Malpensa—hotels near Milan-Malpensa. If the flight is rescheduled to the next day, a spontaneous search for overnight accommodation during the season can be more expensive and stressful than a ready backup option.

What Rights Passengers Have in Case of Cancellation or Delay

Flights from Italy and most flights operated by EU airlines fall under European air passenger protection rules. According to the Your Europe portal of the European Union, in case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to choose between reimbursement, rebooking, or return under appropriate conditions, as well as the right to assistance at the airport. Assistance may include meals, drinks, communication, and if the departure is postponed to the next day—accommodation and transport between the hotel and the airport.

Compensation is a separate issue. European rules provide that a passenger may be entitled to compensation for cancellations less than 14 days in advance or for arrivals with a delay of over 3 hours, but the airline may not pay compensation if it proves the existence of extraordinary circumstances. An important detail: according to Your Europe's clarification, strikes by the airline's own staff are usually not considered extraordinary circumstances, whereas external strikes, such as dispatcher or airport strikes, may be viewed differently. Therefore, each case must be evaluated based on the cause of the specific delay or cancellation.

AirHelp in its current review for June 13 also notes that easyJet passengers in Italy may face delays or cancellations due to the 18-hour strike of Italian pilots and cabin crew, and additional airport actions may amplify the effect. At the same time, the service correctly distinguishes situations: if the delay is related to an internal strike of airline staff, the chances for compensation may be higher; if the cause is a dispatcher or third-party airport action, compensation is less obvious, but the right to care, rebooking, or refund remains.

Why This is Important for Summer Tourism in Italy

Italy remains one of the key summer destinations in Europe, and June is a month when the tourist season is already gaining momentum, but prices and loads have not yet reached the August peak everywhere. That is why even a one-day aviation strike can have a wider impact than it seems from the calendar. Tourists fly to Rome for Lazio and Tuscany, to Milan for Northern Italy and the lakes, to Naples for Campania and the Amalfi Coast, to Venice for Veneto and cruise routes. A delay of a few hours can break a train booking, transfer, or check-in, and the cancellation of an evening flight often means searching for overnight accommodation at the last minute.

For the market, this situation shows another feature of the European summer of 2026: passengers must plan not only the ticket price but also the operational reliability of the route. The cheapest flight with a short layover may turn out to be more expensive if one strike day leads to the loss of a hotel, tour, or subsequent flight. Families with children, travelers with luggage, and passengers with limited mobility, and those flying for an event with a fixed date must be especially careful.

If the trip is already planned, the smartest approach is not to panic, but to manage the risk. Check the flight, keep your phone charged, have booking data at hand, do not put documents in checked luggage, keep receipts for forced expenses, and do not agree to a voucher or alternative if you do not understand whether you are giving up a better option. If the flight is cancelled, contact the airline immediately through an official channel and ask them to state the reason for cancellation in writing.

Conclusion

The aviation strike in Italy on June 13 is not a complete closure of airspace and not a reason to automatically cancel the entire trip. But it is a significant operational risk, especially for easyJet passengers and travelers through Verona, Cagliari, and Milan-Linate. The safest strategy is to check flight status directly with the airline, rely on the guaranteed windows of 07:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00, have a time buffer for layovers, and know your rights under EU rules. In summer Italy, even a few hours of delay can change the route, therefore a prepared passenger on this day will have significantly more control over the trip.

Sources of facts: official strike calendar of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, ENAC notification on guaranteed flights during the easyJet strike on June 13, 2026, ENAC minimum guaranteed service rules, RaiNews publication from June 12, 2026, Your Europe clarification on EU air passenger rights, and AirHelp's current review of Italian strikes on June 13.