Christmas Day travelers flying out of Rome and Milan encountered longer queues and pushed-back departure times today as Italy’s two busiest airports reported delays linked to reduced ground handling and security staffing.

Airlines operating from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa urged passengers to arrive significantly earlier than usual, warning that bottlenecks at check in, bag drop and security checkpoints could ripple through departure banks throughout the day.

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Morning congestion as festive schedules meet leaner staffing

The earliest signs of strain appeared in the morning departure waves, when traditionally lighter Christmas Day schedules nonetheless intersected with concentrated holiday demand and leaner on-the-ground teams.

At Rome Fiumicino, passengers heading to European and domestic destinations reported slower bag drop and boarding, with some short haul services departing behind schedule despite relatively clear skies and normal air traffic conditions.

In Milan Malpensa’s Terminals 1 and 2, similar patterns emerged as long but slow moving lines formed at airline check in islands and security screening points.

Several carriers used public address announcements and mobile alerts to advise customers to proceed directly to security and gates after check in, rather than spending time in terminal shops and restaurants, in an effort to claw back lost minutes on tightly timed turnarounds.

Airport representatives emphasized that operations were not at a standstill and that most flights were expected to operate, but acknowledged that critical support functions were running with fewer personnel than planned.

While precise delay statistics for Christmas Day are typically published only after the fact, operational staff described “manageable but noticeable” disruption, particularly during the mid morning and early afternoon banks that concentrate intra European traffic.

For travelers, the practical effect was a departure experience that felt more like a peak summer Saturday than a traditionally calmer winter holiday. Families and solo passengers alike shared accounts of queues snaking across terminal halls and boarding gates remaining open past scheduled departure times as late arriving passengers and baggage were processed.

Ground handling gaps slow aircraft turnarounds

Ground handling companies, which provide baggage loading and unloading, aircraft pushback, cabin cleaning and many check in functions, appear to have been a key pressure point at both airports.

Industry sources noted that a combination of rostered holiday leave, sickness and ongoing recruitment challenges left some handlers operating with reduced teams on 25 December.

Even modest shortfalls in ramp staff can have an outsized impact on punctuality. When a single crew is assigned to cover more parking stands than usual, tasks that are normally performed in parallel become sequential, stretching the time each aircraft spends on the ground.

Loading outbound baggage, positioning steps and jet bridges, and completing safety checks all take a few minutes longer when there are fewer hands on deck.

At Rome Fiumicino, operations managers reported that certain morning departures needed additional time at the gate while handlers cleared inbound luggage and prepared aircraft cabins. This compressed the window available for boarding and final checks before pushback, causing a sequence of minor delays as departures queued for stands and runway slots.

Milan Malpensa saw similar dynamics, particularly on European services with rapid turnarounds. Some aircraft that were scheduled to complete multiple legs over the course of Christmas Day departed late on their first or second sectors, reducing the margin available for recovery later in the rotation.

Airlines indicated that where possible they reassigned spare aircraft or consolidated lightly loaded services, but options were limited by holiday fleet plans and crew duty time rules.

Security staffing shortages stretch checkpoints

Security screening emerged as the second major choke point, as reduced teams at airport security contractors struggled to keep pace with surges of passengers arriving in concentrated waves.

Both Fiumicino and Malpensa operate a mix of Schengen and non Schengen departure zones, each requiring separate, fully staffed checkpoints. On Christmas Day, not all of these lanes could be opened at once.

Travelers reported that security queues periodically spilled back toward check in areas, with wait times fluctuating depending on the arrival of large groups and the prioritization of imminent departures.

Airport staff were seen walking the lines to identify passengers for soon-to-close flights and fast track them toward the front in order to avoid rebookings and missed connections.

Several factors make security roles particularly difficult to staff around peak holidays. Personnel require extensive vetting and specialized training, limiting the pool of temporary or seasonal workers who can be deployed at short notice.

In addition, the irregular hours and split shifts typical of airport security work are often less attractive during festive periods, when many staff seek time off to be with family.

In recent months, Italian unions representing airport security and handling workers have raised concerns about staffing levels and workload, particularly during high demand periods.

Although there was no formal strike at Rome or Milan on 25 December, the knock on effects of earlier industrial tensions and a competitive labor market were evident in the stretched resources at key checkpoints.

Airlines urge early arrival and flexible plans

In response to the day’s delays, airlines serving both Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa issued advisories through their websites, apps and social media channels recommending that passengers arrive at the airport earlier than usual.

For European and domestic departures, carriers suggested arriving at least two and a half to three hours before scheduled departure, while for long haul flights four hours was advised as a conservative buffer.

Some airlines also recommended that passengers complete online check in and download or print their boarding passes before leaving home in order to bypass kiosk queues and proceed directly to bag drop. Travelers with only hand luggage were urged to go straight to security, reducing dwell time in the landside areas where bottlenecks are most acute.

Operational planners acknowledged that the timing of the disruption was especially challenging, occurring at the heart of the Christmas holiday travel window. Many passengers were traveling to join family or connecting to onward flights that may have limited availability in the days ahead. As a result, airlines sought to prioritize keeping departures operating, even if delayed, rather than preemptively canceling services.

At the same time, carriers reminded passengers of their rights under European regulation in cases of significant delays, cancellations or missed connections, and encouraged travelers to retain boarding passes and receipts for any expenses incurred.

Customer service channels reported heavier than normal call volumes as travelers sought to adjust itineraries or confirm minimum connection times in light of the staffing related delays.

Part of a wider pattern of holiday travel strain

The challenges at Rome and Milan on 25 December did not occur in isolation. Across Europe, the 2025 holiday period has been marked by a combination of localized strikes, lingering staffing shortages and infrastructure constraints that have periodically disrupted air travel.

Earlier in December, coordinated walkouts by Italian ground staff and air traffic control personnel prompted cancellations and delays across the country, highlighting structural stresses in the sector.

In Italy, many airport and airline staff continue to press for improved pay, more predictable schedules and restrictions on outsourcing, arguing that the recovery in passenger demand since the pandemic has not been matched by sustainable working conditions. Employers counter that margins remain tight, particularly for ground handling firms that operate on thin contracts and face rising payroll and energy costs.

At a practical level, these tensions translate into an ecosystem that is less resilient when holidays and unexpected absences coincide. When rosters are built with little slack, a small number of unfilled shifts can translate quickly into longer queues, slower turnarounds and worn down staff shouldering extra loads. Airports like Fiumicino and Malpensa, which function as critical hubs for both domestic and international traffic, feel these pressures acutely.

Analysts warn that unless staffing and scheduling challenges are addressed more comprehensively, episodic disruptions such as today’s Christmas Day delays may become a recurring feature of peak travel seasons. While passengers can mitigate some risk by arriving early and building buffers into connection times, the underlying fragility in ground operations remains a systemic concern.

What Christmas Day passengers experienced on the ground

For many passengers, the impact of reduced staffing was measured less in statistics and more in personal holiday stories. Families traveling with children recounted lengthy waits at check in counters with limited seating, while older travelers spoke of standing for extended periods in security queues that moved in fits and starts.

Some passengers described boarding gates where staff were clearly juggling multiple delayed flights at once, making frequent announcements and adjusting boarding priorities in real time.

At both airports, food and retail outlets inside security reported brisk business as delayed passengers sought to pass the time once through the main bottlenecks. However, landside concessions, which rely more heavily on quick turnover from arriving passengers, saw more uneven demand as people focused on reaching airside checkpoints as soon as possible.

Despite the frustrations, many travelers noted that frontline staff remained professional and apologetic, often explaining that teams were working with fewer colleagues than normal.

Some handling agents and security officers were visibly rotating between stations to keep lines moving, a sign of the stretched resources behind the day’s inconvenience.

Social media posts from Rome and Milan showed images of crowded terminal corridors and long, looping queues, accompanied by a mixture of resignation and seasonal humor. For those with flexible plans or short hops, the delays were an annoyance. For passengers facing tight onward connections or time sensitive family events, they were more serious.

Advice for upcoming departures from Rome and Milan

With the festive travel period continuing through the New Year, travelers booked to depart from Rome Fiumicino or Milan Malpensa in the coming days are being encouraged to treat today’s disruption as a warning sign and plan accordingly. While staffing levels can vary from day to day, the underlying pressures that contributed to the Christmas Day delays are unlikely to disappear immediately.

Passengers are advised to build generous time margins into their journey to the airport, factoring in possible congestion on access roads or public transport. Arriving earlier than the minimum check in closing times gives a cushion against unexpected queues at bag drop or security and reduces the stress of navigating crowded terminals.

Experts also recommend that travelers monitor their flight status frequently in the 24 hours before departure using airline apps or notification services. Schedule changes made the evening before can sometimes provide early warning of expected disruptions, giving passengers a chance to adjust transfers, parking bookings or meet and greet arrangements.

Where possible, choosing flights with longer connection windows, especially when transiting through another hub on the same day, can help absorb knock on delays from outbound Italian sectors. Although this may mean more time spent in transit, it can be a prudent trade off during a period when airport operations are running close to their limits.

FAQ

Q1. Are Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa operating normally on Christmas Day?
Both airports remained open and operational on Christmas Day, but reduced staffing in ground handling and security led to longer queues and departure delays on a number of flights.

Q2. How long were the delays for departing flights?
Delay lengths varied by airline and time of day, with some flights departing close to schedule and others facing longer waits at gates or on the apron while baggage and servicing were completed with smaller teams.

Q3. Should I arrive earlier than usual for a flight from Rome or Milan this week?
Yes. Airlines are advising passengers to arrive earlier than usual, particularly during the busy holiday period, in order to allow extra time for check in, bag drop and security screening.

Q4. Is this disruption related to a strike?
There was no nationwide strike in effect today, but recent industrial actions and a tight labor market have contributed to staffing challenges at several points in the airport operation.

Q5. Will my flight be canceled because of the staffing shortages?
Most flights are expected to operate, though some may be delayed. In limited cases, airlines may consolidate or cancel services if operational pressures mount, so it is important to check your flight status regularly.

Q6. What can I do to reduce the risk of missing my flight?
Complete online check in in advance, arrive at the airport well ahead of your airline’s recommended time, go straight to security after dropping bags, and pay close attention to gate announcements and screens.

Q7. What happens if I miss a connection because my first flight from Italy is delayed?
If both flights are on the same ticket, your airline should assist with rebooking onto the next available service and may provide care such as meals or accommodation depending on the length and cause of the delay.

Q8. Are passengers entitled to compensation for delays from Rome or Milan?
Under European air passenger rules, compensation may be available for long delays or cancellations when the cause is within the airline’s control; travelers should keep documentation and contact their carrier for specific cases.

Q9. Are security checks less strict when airports are short staffed?
No. Security standards are not reduced even when queues are long. Instead, fewer lanes may be open, which is why wait times increase when staffing is stretched.

Q10. Is it safe to book flights through Rome Fiumicino or Milan Malpensa for New Year travel?
Yes, both airports are functioning as Italy’s main hubs, but travelers should remain prepared for possible delays, arrive early, and stay informed as the busy holiday period continues.