Travelers heading to Italy in February 2026 are being urged to brace for a turbulent month on the move, as a wave of coordinated rail and aviation strikes threatens to disrupt thousands of journeys across the country. With national rail walkouts, a major air transport strike and local public transport stoppages all clustered in the second half of the month, visitors face a challenging landscape for getting to, from, and around the country at a time when Italy is also in the global spotlight as host of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
What Is Happening: The Key Strike Dates in February
The most disruptive actions for international travelers center on two major national strikes: a 24 hour air transport shutdown scheduled for Monday 16 February 2026 and a nationwide rail strike affecting the Italian State Railways group from the evening of Friday 27 February through Saturday 28 February. Both are expected to have a heavy impact on intercity and long distance connections.
On 16 February, aviation unions representing pilots, cabin crew, air traffic staff and ground handlers have called a coordinated national strike that will hit ITA Airways, several foreign carriers including Vueling, and ground operations at major airports. The action is set to run for 24 hours, with only legally protected “guaranteed” flights operating in limited time windows. Travel industry analysts warn of widespread cancellations and heavy delays throughout the day, especially at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate.
Just as air traffic begins to normalize, attention will shift to the rail network. According to strike calendars shared by Italian transport unions and travel advisories, train drivers and onboard staff across the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) group, which includes Trenitalia’s high speed and intercity operations, plan a 24 hour national walkout from 21:00 on 27 February to 20:59 on 28 February. The strikes are likely to disrupt Frecciarossa and Intercity services as well as many regional trains, particularly outside the morning and evening protected slots.
These actions come on top of a series of local and regional work stoppages during February affecting city buses, metro systems and regional operators. A nationwide strike in local public transport is scheduled for 25 February, when metro, bus and tram services in Rome, Milan and other major cities are expected to run at sharply reduced levels outside statutory guarantee times.
How Airports Will Be Affected Across Italy
The 16 February aviation strike is poised to send shockwaves through Italy’s main airports. Rome Fiumicino, the country’s primary long haul gateway and ITA Airways hub, is expected to see the largest number of flight cancellations. Industry data cited by travel risk firms indicate that hundreds of services could be scrapped or rescheduled, with ripple effects on connecting itineraries across Europe and beyond.
Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate will also be heavily hit, as ground handling staff and local aviation workers have joined the national action. Handling companies that manage check in, baggage loading and aircraft turnaround are part of the dispute, which means even flights that are not formally canceled may suffer long delays at check in and baggage claim. Venice, Naples, Bologna and Verona are listed among the other key airports likely to experience significant disruption.
Italian law obliges airlines and airport authorities to respect specific guarantee time bands during national strikes, typically early morning and early evening periods when a skeleton schedule of flights must be operated. However, these windows are narrow and primarily designed to safeguard essential mobility rather than tourist convenience. Experience from past strikes suggests that most midday and late night services are at risk of cancellation, especially on domestic and short haul routes.
Travelers should also be aware that ground handling protests can affect baggage and boarding procedures even when a flight itself is not officially part of the strike. Reduced staffing at check in counters, security lanes and gates can create long queues and missed connections. Passengers with tight layovers in Italian hubs are particularly vulnerable to these indirect effects.
Rail Disruptions: High Speed, Regional and Cross Border Trains
Italy’s rail system, normally one of the most efficient ways to move between major cities, will be under serious strain in the second half of February. The national FS group strike on 27 and 28 February follows a month already marked by smaller regional and maintenance walkouts affecting Trenord in Lombardy and Trenitalia workshops in Emilia Romagna. While these localized actions have mostly spared tourists, the late February strike is designed to target the core of the network.
During the 24 hour action, high speed Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca services are expected to run a reduced schedule, with priority given to a limited number of long distance trains that fall within the mandatory guarantee windows. Regional services, which connect cities with their surrounding areas, are likely to see widespread cancellations and severe delays, especially during the night and mid day periods.
International trains that cross Italy’s borders may also be affected. Services heading toward France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia often rely on FS crews or infrastructure that could be impacted by the strike. Operators typically issue revised timetables in the days leading up to the action, but knock on delays and last minute cancellations are common. Travelers connecting to or from international rail services in Milan, Turin, Venice or Bologna should build in additional time and monitor operator alerts closely.
Even outside the national strike dates, travelers should not assume rail services are immune from disruption. Ongoing protests linked to the Winter Olympics have already included acts of sabotage on key rail corridors in northern Italy, leading to cascading delays and reroutings. While these incidents are separate from union actions, they add another layer of uncertainty to February train travel.
Local Transport: Metro, Buses and Trams Under Pressure
Beyond the headline grabbing rail and airport strikes, February will see multiple stoppages in local public transport systems that are vital for moving around Italian cities. A 24 hour national strike in local public transport has been proclaimed for Wednesday 25 February, covering metro lines, trams and city buses in much of the country. In practice, that means residents and visitors in Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Bologna and Florence may find their usual urban transport options drastically reduced.
City authorities have already published preliminary guidance on expected service levels. In Rome, for example, metro and bus services are generally guaranteed only during morning and late afternoon peaks, with extensive gaps in the middle of the day and late evening. Milan follows a similar pattern, protecting limited operations during commuter hours while much of the rest of the day remains at the discretion of striking staff.
Outside the nationwide strike, a patchwork of local stoppages is scheduled or already under way. February calendars from regional transport bodies list 24 hour bus strikes in Bolzano and Campobasso, a series of regional actions in Sicily and Abruzzo, and shorter four hour walkouts in cities like Catania and Genoa. Each action follows its own timetable and may only affect specific companies or routes, making it challenging for visitors to interpret what is actually running on any given day.
While some tourist centers maintain partial service even during strikes, the accumulated effect of these actions is to make spontaneous city hopping or tight sightseeing schedules much riskier. Travelers relying on public transport to reach museums, archaeological sites or rural villages should plan for slower journeys and have backup options ready.
Why the Strikes Are Happening Now
The February 2026 wave of transport strikes is rooted in a combination of labor disputes and wider political tensions. Aviation unions have long been at odds with management at ITA Airways and major handling companies over pay, staffing levels and the pace of restructuring following the closure of Alitalia. Unions argue that productivity demands have risen while wages and job security have lagged, and they see coordinated national action as their strongest leverage.
On the rail side, organizations representing train drivers and onboard staff accuse the FS group of eroding working conditions through aggressive restructuring, rostering changes and what they describe as insufficient investment in safety and maintenance. The late February strike is framed as a response to stalled negotiations over a national contract renewal that formally expired at the end of 2024.
The timing is particularly sensitive because Italy is hosting the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with events underway in Lombardy and the Dolomites throughout the month. Union leaders insist that they are not seeking to sabotage the Games, arguing that they have deliberately concentrated some actions outside the core Olympic venues. However, critics in government and business circles accuse them of wielding disproportionate pressure at a time when Italy’s international reputation is under close scrutiny.
Adding to the tension have been incidents of rail infrastructure sabotage by extremist groups opposed to the Olympics and its environmental footprint. While separate from union activity, these events have triggered heightened security measures around key rail arteries and increased political rhetoric about the need to protect national mobility, which in turn has colored public debate over the legality and legitimacy of strike actions.
Practical Advice for Travelers Holding Tickets
For visitors with February flights or train journeys in or through Italy, the most important step is to confirm booking details directly with carriers and operators as strike dates approach. Airlines typically publish lists of canceled flights 48 to 72 hours before a national strike, alongside options for free rebooking or refunds. Passengers booked on ITA Airways, Vueling and other affected airlines around 16 February should monitor their email and booking portals closely and consider moving travel to a different day if flexibility allows.
Rail passengers holding tickets for 27 or 28 February on Trenitalia or other FS group services should expect timetable changes. High speed tickets often allow free changes in the event of a strike, and operators may authorize last minute modifications at ticket counters or via apps. Travelers with non refundable advance fares should check specific conditions, as strike clauses sometimes offer more generous terms than normal.
In both air and rail, travel insurance that includes strike disruption coverage can be valuable, but policies vary in their treatment of industrial action. Many insurers require that cover be in place before strikes are officially announced, and they often exclude purely voluntary changes motivated by fear of disruption. Anyone purchasing a new policy now should read the fine print carefully to understand what expenses, such as hotel stays or alternative transport, would actually be reimbursed.
For those who cannot change dates, adopting a conservative approach to connections is wise. Allow longer transfer times between flights, or between a flight and a train, and avoid planning same day onward travel to remote destinations that require multiple legs. When possible, schedule arrivals at Italian hubs either a day before important events or at times of day that fall within the official guaranteed service windows during strikes.
Alternatives and Contingency Plans Inside Italy
With both trains and planes subject to disruption, travelers should consider alternative modes of transport and flexible routing. Long distance coaches connecting major Italian cities have expanded in recent years and may offer a useful fallback during rail strikes, although they too can face delays if road traffic increases. Car rentals remain an option for itineraries that focus on one or two regions, but visitors should weigh higher costs, parking challenges and winter driving conditions, particularly in the north and mountainous areas.
On urban routes, taxis and licensed ride services are likely to see surging demand on strike days, especially in Rome and Milan. Fares may rise during peak periods, and waits can be long, so pre booking where possible and sharing rides within groups can reduce stress. In some cities, hotel concierges and guesthouse owners work with trusted drivers who can be reserved in advance for airport transfers or key journeys.
Travelers with flexible plans might benefit from reorganizing their itineraries to spend strike days in walkable historic centers rather than relying on public transport to shuttle between distant attractions. Many Italian cities, including Florence, Siena, Verona and central Rome, can be explored largely on foot, with dense clusters of museums, churches and piazzas within compact areas. Shifting day trips that require trains or buses to non strike dates can preserve the overall experience while reducing exposure to cancellations.
Those attending Olympic events or heading to ski resorts connected by rail should pay particular attention to local advisories. In some corridors, shuttle buses and special services are planned as backups for fans and staff, but capacity is finite and often prioritized for ticket holders or accredited personnel. Building an extra buffer day into ski and Olympic travel plans can help absorb unexpected changes.
Staying Informed as the Situation Evolves
Strike plans in Italy are subject to last minute negotiation, postponement or partial cancellation, and additional actions may be announced with relatively short notice. To stay ahead of developments, travelers should rely on a mix of official and independent sources, including airline and rail operator alerts, updates from airport authorities, and dedicated strike tracking services that collate proclamations from unions and government agencies.
Embassies and consular services in Italy often issue travel advisories when nationwide transport strikes approach, summarizing the likely impact for foreign visitors. Major international news outlets such as Reuters, the Associated Press and leading Italian newspapers regularly cover transport disruption, particularly when it intersects with high profile events like the Winter Olympics. These reports can provide early signals if negotiations appear to be breaking down or if the government moves to impose minimum service levels.
Once on the ground, hotel reception desks, local tourism offices and station information counters remain valuable, if sometimes crowded, points of reference. Staff are usually well accustomed to navigating strike days and can suggest practical alternatives based on real time conditions, such as replacement buses, shared taxis or modified metro routes that remain operational.
Ultimately, February 2026 does not need to be a write off for travel to Italy, but it will require more preparation, flexibility and patience than usual. Visitors who keep a close eye on evolving strike calendars, maintain open communication with carriers and build contingency time into their itineraries can still enjoy the country’s culture, food and winter landscapes, even as its transport system weathers a stormy month of labor unrest.