Italy Holds 24-Hour Transport Strike on May 29: What Air Passengers and Tourists Should Know

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
29.05.2026 20:06

Italy Holds 24-Hour Transport Strike on May 29: What Air Passengers and Tourists Should Know

On May 29, 2026, Italy will undergo a nationwide transport strike, directly affecting air travel, railways, some local transport, ports, highways, and connections to the islands. For tourists, this means not only the risk of flight cancellations or delays but also a more difficult journey to the airport, fewer backup connection options and the need to carefully check carrier notifications throughout the day.

The Italian aviation regulator ENAC has confirmed that a list of guaranteed flights for the aviation sector strike on May 29 has been published. A separate ENAC document defines the 24-hour action from 00:00 to 23:59 local time and explains which flights must be operated even during the strike. The MIT strike register, updated on May 29, also shows this action as nationwide: the aviation sector is covered for the entire day, railways from 21:00 on May 28 to 21:00 on May 29, and highways, sea transport, and local public transport operate under separate regimes.

For travelers, the key difference between this situation and a regular flight delay is that the problem is not limited to a single carrier or a single airport. If a passenger is flying through Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Naples (NAP), Venice Marco Polo (VCE) or another Italian hub, they need to simultaneously monitor flight status, transfer to the terminal, baggage check-in possibilities, connections and the return plan from the airport in case of cancellation. This is why the news is of practical importance not only for those departing from Italy on May 29, but also for passengers with layovers in Italian cities.

What Exactly the Italian Authorities Confirmed

ENAC reported that the list of flights that must be operated during the strike is available in the guaranteed flights section. The regulator's document states that the strike in the air transport sector lasts 24 hours — from midnight to 23:59. At the same time, Italian rules provide for protected time windows in which flight regularity must be ensured: from 7:00 to 10:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00. This does not mean that every flight during the day will be operated, but it gives passengers a guideline as to which departures have the highest level of protection.

In addition to flights in guaranteed hours, ENAC highlights several categories of flights that have special status. Among them are state, military, sanitary, humanitarian and rescue flights, some connections to the islands, flights already in transit at the start of the strike, as well as a number of intercontinental departures. For tourists, this is important for two reasons. First, an intercontinental flight should not be automatically considered cancelled just because of the general action. Second, even if the long-haul segment is protected, a domestic feeder flight or a train to the airport may be the weak link in the itinerary.

The MIT register shows a broader scale of the strike. The action is not limited to aviation personnel: various transport categories are declared, including the railway sector, local transport, sea transport, port services and highways. This creates a chain effect for tourists. For example, a passenger may have a flight in a protected window, but face disruptions to the train to the airport or longer travel time due to increased demand for taxis and private transfers.

Why the Greatest Risk Is Not Just the Flight Itself

During large-scale transport strikes, travelers often focus on the airline's board, but underestimate the ground portion of the route. In the case of Italy on May 29, this is particularly noticeable in Lombardy. Malpensa Express warned that the railway strike lasts from 21:00 on May 28 to 21:00 on May 29, and guaranteed hours for trains are set from 6:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00. If airport trains are cancelled, non-stop buses are provided between Milano Cadorna and Malpensa Airport, as well as between Stabio and Malpensa Airport. However, replacing a train with a bus usually means lower capacity, longer boarding and lower predictability of travel time.

This is especially important for tourists with morning or evening flights. Formally, a flight may remain on the schedule, but the journey to the terminal will take more time. If a passenger is traveling from the city center, from the lake region, from another Italian city or returning from an excursion route, they need to allow extra time not only for check-in, but also for possible disruptions in regional transport. For families with children, people with heavy luggage, passengers with limited mobility and those flying on separate tickets, such a time buffer becomes critical.

What Guaranteed Time Windows Mean

The presence of guaranteed windows should not be taken as full insurance against delay. The Italian model protects basic mobility and certain categories of transport, but the actual operational situation depends on staff participation, aircraft positioning, baggage handling, air navigation support, the work of ground services and the decisions of specific airlines. If an aircraft or crew failed to arrive due to a previous cancellation, a flight in a protected time may also change status.

The most vulnerable are short domestic flights, flights with several daily frequencies, journeys with self-transfers and routes where the passenger has a separate ticket for a train or bus to another city. A tourist flying, for example, from Naples to Rome for a subsequent intercontinental flight, should check not only the first air segment, but also the minimum connection time, train alternatives and the possibility of free or paid rescheduling of the first flight.

For incoming tourists, the risk is different: even if the flight to Italy arrives, baggage, transfer, car rental or hotel check-in may be tied to the arrival time. On the day of the general strike, it is advisable to notify the hotel in advance about a late check-in, not to plan strictly paid excursions for the evening of arrival and to have offline access to bookings, addresses and carrier contacts.

Passenger Rights: What to Check Before Cancelling a Trip

For flights departing from the EU, EU air passenger protection rules apply. If a flight is cancelled, the passenger usually has the right to choose between a refund and rerouting, and in case of a long wait — assistance according to the circumstances. At the same time, the issue of monetary compensation depends on the reason for the cancellation, the notification time and whether the airline can prove the existence of extraordinary circumstances. An external strike may be interpreted differently than an internal strike of the airline's own staff, so tourists should not independently cancel their ticket without receiving written confirmation of options from the carrier.

Practically, this means a simple rule: first check the flight status in the app or on the airline's website, then look at the airport notifications, and only after that make a decision about changing the route. If a flight is cancelled, it is advisable to save the email or message from the airline, screenshots of the status, receipts for necessary expenses and all boarding documents. If the flight is not cancelled, but the passenger decided not to go to the airport, the possibilities for a refund may be significantly weaker.

What Tourists Should Do on May 29

The best strategy for the strike day — not to wait for chaos at the check-in counter, but to collect several working scenarios in advance. Before leaving for the airport, you should complete a short checklist:

  • check flight status on the airline's website and on the airport board;
  • compare departure time with guaranteed aviation windows 7:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00;
  • check if the train or bus to the required airport is operating exactly at your time;
  • have a backup route to the terminal: taxi, transfer, other station or earlier departure;
  • do not hand over the last key to the accommodation and do not cancel the hotel option until the flight is confirmed;
  • keep receipts, carrier messages and booking confirmations;
  • if there is a connection on separate tickets, check the possibility of rescheduling the second segment.

For those who are only planning a trip to Italy in the coming days, the consequences may last after the strike ends. Some aircraft and crews may not be where they are needed for morning flights the next day. Therefore, on May 30, it is also worth checking the schedule before leaving, especially if the route starts with an early flight or includes a layover through Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Bologna or other busy airports.

Why This News Is Important for the Tourism Market

Italy enters the summer season as one of the most popular destinations in Europe, and the end of May is a period of active city trips, cruise routes, wedding tourism, short holidays and the start of longer summer vacations. Any nationwide disruption in transport here quickly goes beyond aviation: tourist groups change transfers, hotels receive late check-ins, excursion companies reschedule programs, and passengers from distant markets are forced to rebuild routes through other European hubs.

For airlines and agencies, such a situation is a reminder that in periods of high demand, clients need not only a low price, but also a resilient route. A direct flight, a larger buffer between connections, booking a transfer with the possibility of rescheduling and flexible hotel conditions may have more value than minimal savings on a ticket. For independent travelers, this is also an argument not to build complex routes with several separate carriers in one day if a transport action has already been announced in the country.

Conclusion

The strike in Italy on May 29 — is not an isolated problem of a few flights, but a wide transport disruption that can affect the entire journey of a tourist from the hotel to boarding. The most important facts have already been officially confirmed: the aviation part lasts from 00:00 to 23:59, protected windows for flights are set from 7:00 to 10:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00, and ground transport has its own restrictions and schedules of guaranteed service. Travelers should act calmly but actively: check the flight with the carrier, plan the journey to the airport with a large buffer, do not cancel the ticket without confirmation from the airline and keep documents in case of applying for a refund or rerouting.