Travel chaos ensued in Italy as hundreds of flights were canceled on July 15, leaving travelers scrambling to make alternate arrangements during the peak of tourist season. The situation has been described as "horrible" by affected passengers.
The flight cancellations came as air transport unions followed through with a planned strike just two days after a train strike had already paralyzed rail services. It is not uncommon for Italy to experience transport strikes during the summertime, causing distress to both commuters and tourists. The strikes are typically initiated by unions seeking improved work contracts and conditions.
Italy's national carrier, ITA, confirmed the cancellation of 133 flights, primarily domestic but also a few to popular European destinations such as Madrid, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. Low-cost airlines Ryanair and Vueling also had to cancel a significant number of flights. The strike affected various categories of workers, including pilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers, and airport personnel.
Di Marco Sara, a representative of the Filt-Cgil transport union, expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to customers.
"Our focus would have been to be summoned earlier, even by the ministry, not the day before, to try to defer or preempt the strike. We wanted to sit at the table and renew the contract," he stated.
The strike was called by unions Filt Cgil, Uiltrasporti, and Ugl Trasporto due to "absolutely unsatisfactory" contract disagreements with Malta Air, the operator of Ryanair flights. Ryanair issued an apology on its website, acknowledging the cancellations and other disruptions resulting from the strike, emphasizing that the situation was "beyond our control."
As stranded travelers sought alternative options, the impact of the strike was felt not only in Italy but also across Europe, as flights to and from the country were affected. The lack of prior notice or proactive negotiations between the unions and relevant authorities has sparked criticism, as many believe that earlier intervention could have mitigated the strike's impact on travelers.
Comments (0)