Holidaymakers flying to or from Italy next week have been warned to expect disruption as strike action is set to delay air travel.
Passengers are facing simultaneous strikes, with EasyJet pilots and Italian baggage handlers preparing to walk out on the same day.
It’s expected that the low-cost carrier’s pilots will begin their strikes at midnight (Central European Time) on March 24, with the walkout lasting 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Italy’s largest airport handler association, Assohandlers – represents baggage handlers and ground staff at major airports including Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino, Naples, Catania and Venice – will be striking the same day.
But although the action has been backed by powerful European unions ANPAC (National Association of Professional Civil Aviation) FILT (Italian Federation of Transport Workers), and CGIL (Central European Time), it’s set to cause significant disruption.
Thousands of flights will potentially be delayed or cancelled, with an air passenger rights expert warning walkouts pose a ‘dual threat’ to travellers flying on the day.
There is a silver lining for affected EasyJet passengers though: up to £520 in compensation for any inconvenience caused.
Anton Radchenko, CEO at AirAdvisor, explains: ‘These strikes present a dual threat to air passengers’ plans.
‘Pilot walkouts are particularly damaging and regularly lead to flights being cancelled. And, on this occasion, the pilots’ industrial action falling on the same day as handler strikes in Italy could lead to large-scale disruption.
‘EasyJet is in a particularly troublesome position, with not only its pilots striking, but also staff at one of its key handling partners in Italy set to walk out.’
‘When pilots strike, carriers may draft in standby or management pilots that belong to unions that aren’t striking. However, this is a complicated process that alone doesn’t prevent services from being cancelled.’
What to do if your flight is cancelled due to strikes
Passengers may not receive compensation for disruption due to strikes, because it is outside of the airlines’ control, but there are other things passengers are entitled to if their flight is delayed or cancelled.
Under UK law, airlines must provide care and assistance if a flight is delayed more than two hours for a short-haul flight, more than three hours for a medium-haul flight, or more than four hours for a long-haul flight.
This can include free meals, accommodation and transport to and from the airport.
Anton adds that depending on the distance of your planned journey, passengers affected by the Italian airport strikes could be due up to £520 in compensation from EasyJet.
He explains: ‘EasyJet are obliged to pay up for flights cancelled as a result of their own staff striking as the courts consider the inconvenience to be within the airline’s control – or in other words, avoidable.
‘If you’re due to travel anywhere with EasyJet or on any airline’s flight to Italy on the 24th, make sure you have your airline’s app on your phone and sign up for email and SMS alerts. Keep an eye on your carrier’s website and social media channels too.
‘Use a compensation calculator to figure out what you might be owed if your flight is delayed or cancelled.’
This strike follows a series of previous walkouts earlier this year, which led to widespread cancellations and delays.
Cities across Italy are also facing disruption to local transport services on March 21 due to national industrial action lasting 24 hours. Travellers in Rome, Milan and other major cities are set to be affected.
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