Italy’s air travel network is bracing for one of its most chaotic starts to the year as a powerful winter storm system sweeps across Europe just as a wave of coordinated airline and ground handling strikes hits key airports.

From Milan to Venice and Rome, passengers are facing a volatile mix of weather delays, last-minute cancellations and labor unrest that is already spilling over into the peak Epiphany and post-holiday travel period.

More News

Storms slam Italian air traffic at a critical holiday moment

A mass of Arctic air that plunged temperatures across much of Europe in early January has brought snow, heavy rain and strong winds to large parts of Italy, disrupting flights at several major airports just as holidaymakers attempt to return home.

Meteorologists report that the same cold front that shut schools and snarled traffic from Poland to France has fed into low-pressure systems over the Alps and the central Mediterranean, triggering severe weather along Italy’s main north–south air corridors.

In northern Italy, snowfall and gale-force winds have periodically reduced visibility at airports serving Milan and Venice, forcing airlines to slow operations and triggering knock-on delays to domestic and short-haul European routes.

In central regions, including Rome and its coastal surroundings, intense rain has led to standing water on access roads and airport aprons, complicating ground handling and boarding procedures even when runways have remained open.

The disruption comes on the heels of widespread weather-related cancellations at several major European hubs, meaning that many flights bound for Italy are already operating on thin margins.

With aircraft and crews out of position, even minor meteorological deteriorations during peak hours have been enough to tip the system into widespread delay, particularly for carriers operating dense shuttle schedules between Italian cities and key hubs such as Paris and Amsterdam.

Travel analysts warn that the unusual combination of strong Bora and Mistral-type winds in the northern Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas, coupled with sub-zero temperatures across the Alps, is likely to sustain periods of turbulence and low cloud over the peninsula for days.

That could prolong the risk of short-notice capacity reductions and diversions, especially at airports with only one operational runway or those already operating close to maximum winter capacity.

Mount Etna’s eruption adds fresh uncertainty for Sicilian skies

While much of the attention is focused on snow and ice in the north, Sicily has been grappling with its own aviation hazard: renewed volcanic activity at Mount Etna.

A flank eruption that began on January 1 on the volcano’s eastern slope has sent ash plumes into the atmosphere, periodically threatening airspace around Catania and other airports in eastern Sicily.

Italian aviation authorities and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology have been closely monitoring the height and direction of the ash cloud, issuing dynamic warnings to air traffic managers.

Although the effusive eruption is currently considered to pose limited direct risk to populated areas, even moderate ash emissions can force controllers to reroute or temporarily halt flights in the vicinity, particularly for jet aircraft highly vulnerable to volcanic ash ingestion.

Catania Fontanarossa Airport, which has a long history of intermittent closures due to Etna’s eruptions, has so far sought to limit outright shutdowns by applying rolling slot restrictions and rapid runway inspections whenever ash fall is suspected.

Nevertheless, passengers on routes linking Sicily with Rome, Milan and several European destinations are encountering increased schedule volatility, with aircraft occasionally diverted to Palermo or other alternative airports when winds carry ash toward key approach paths.

Tour operators specializing in cultural and winter sun breaks in Sicily report a spike in customer queries about the safety of travel to the island, although bookings have not yet collapsed.

Industry figures stress that volcanic-related flight suspensions are typically shorter and more localized than those caused by broad weather fronts, but note that in a season already complicated by storms and strikes, any additional constraint on airspace can swiftly ripple through timetables.

Coordinated strikes target ground handling and cabin crew

Compounding the meteorological turmoil, Italy faces a tightly packed calendar of air transport strikes in early January that threatens to push the system to breaking point.

Trade unions representing airport ground handlers, baggage staff and cabin crew at several low-cost and legacy carriers have called work stoppages over pay, contract terms and staffing levels, with peak actions scheduled for January 8 and 9.

According to strike notices filed with Italian authorities, a four-hour air-sector strike is due to hit Venice Marco Polo and Treviso airports on January 8 between late morning and mid-afternoon.

Organized by the USB Lavoro Privato union, the walkout will affect airport and handling personnel, raising the prospect of long queues at check in and security in the Veneto region during a period when many travelers are returning from Alpine resorts or city breaks.

The more severe test is expected on January 9, flagged by several travel risk agencies as the most delicate day for air transport in Italy this month.

Ground handling companies associated with the employers’ group Assohandlers are planning a nationwide four-hour strike that will hit airport operations from early afternoon, potentially slowing aircraft turnarounds, baggage delivery and boarding across the country’s main gateways.

At the same time, cabin crew at easyJet in Italy are set for a 24-hour national strike, while Vueling flight attendants have announced an eight-hour stoppage.

The overlapping actions mean that even where airport infrastructure remains technically open and weather conditions permit flying, airlines may lack sufficient crew or handling capacity to operate their planned schedules, leading to pre-emptive cancellations and significant delays.

Milan and Venice brace for severe operational stress

Milan’s dual-airport system at Malpensa and Linate appears particularly exposed to the coming wave of disruptions. In addition to the national ground handling stoppage, staff at key handling firms serving both Milan airports have signaled their intention to stage all-day walkouts on January 9, raising fears of an effective paralysis of some services.

Industry briefings suggest that at Linate, a critical business and domestic hub, check in and baggage operations could be markedly reduced even if flight slots remain technically authorized.

Malpensa, Italy’s second-busiest airport, is less constrained by runway capacity but heavily reliant on a complex ecosystem of third-party handlers and subcontractors who fuel, load and service aircraft between flights.

Any sustained labor withdrawal among these workers could force airlines to consolidate departures, limit frequencies or cancel rotations outright, particularly on short-haul routes where aircraft complete multiple round trips per day.

In the northeast, the four-hour strike scheduled at Venice and Treviso on January 8 will intersect with ongoing weather threats in the northern Adriatic. Venice Marco Polo is a key entry point for ski tourists heading to the Dolomites as well as for cruise and city break travelers.

Even a brief outage in ground handling capacity there can quickly produce flight backlogs and crowding in departure halls, especially if strong winds or low visibility already require greater spacing between takeoffs and landings.

Local tourism boards and airport operators are urging passengers to arrive earlier than usual, keep luggage volumes manageable and remain in close contact with airlines.

However, they also acknowledge that there is limited room to absorb the combined impact of snow-related delays and rolling labor actions, particularly when airport hotels and ground transport links are already under seasonal strain.

National strike rules offer some protection but not certainty

Italy’s civil aviation authority applies a system of “protected time bands” during national strikes intended to guarantee minimum connectivity.

Flights scheduled between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00 are generally shielded from cancellation due purely to strike action, a framework that has led many airlines to re-time services into these windows when industrial unrest looms.

For travelers, this means that early morning and early evening departures often carry a higher probability of operating, even on days when ground handlers or airline crews are walking off the job.

In the current wave of strikes, carriers serving Milan, Rome and other major airports have been quietly shifting some frequencies into the protected slots, while trimming or consolidating departures due during unprotected hours, particularly in the early afternoon.

Yet these safeguards are far from absolute. Severe weather, volcanic ash, air traffic control restrictions and other safety considerations can all override protected status, and airlines still retain commercial discretion to cancel lightly booked flights if they face staffing shortages.

Moreover, while flights may technically operate, reduced staffing at check in, security screening or baggage handling can produce long queues and slow boarding, eroding the practical benefit of schedule protection for passengers.

Consumer associations emphasize that travelers impacted by strike-related cancellations retain rights under European air passenger regulations, including rebooking and, in many cases, compensation, although eligibility can be complex when multiple causes such as weather and industrial action overlap.

They advise passengers to keep detailed records of disruption, including official delay notices and receipts for any extra expenses incurred.

Holidaymakers and airlines juggle contingency plans

With the Epiphany public holiday on January 6 marking the traditional end of Italy’s festive season, the window from January 7 to 10 was already forecast as one of the busiest of the winter for domestic and short-haul European flights.

Ski travelers returning from the Alps and Dolomites, families ending Christmas stays with relatives, and tourists wrapping up city breaks in Rome, Florence and Venice are all now being drawn into the turbulence.

Airlines have begun issuing travel advisories urging customers scheduled to fly through Italy’s major hubs in the coming days to check their flight status frequently and consider voluntary rebooking to alternative dates or times where flexibility allows.

Some carriers are waiving change fees for itineraries touching Italy on or around the main strike days, particularly for passengers originating outside Europe who face complex onward connections.

On the ground, travel agencies and tour operators are racing to rework itineraries for clients whose flights may be at risk, shifting departures into the early protected windows, rerouting via less affected airports, or in some cases proposing rail or coach alternatives for intra-European legs.

However, the prospect of a separate national rail strike on January 10 further limits the resilience of multimodal options, leaving many travelers with few genuinely robust backup plans.

Airport hotels in Milan, Rome and Venice report elevated demand from travelers opting to arrive a night early or build longer buffers into their return journeys, hoping to reduce the risk of missed flights or cascading delays.

Meanwhile, social media channels are filling with accounts from passengers enduring extended waits for baggage at already understaffed airports, even on days when full-scale strikes have not yet begun.

What travelers should do if they are flying to or through Italy

Travel experts say that while the current wave of storms and strikes will be disruptive, passengers can take steps to reduce their exposure to the worst impacts.

Those who have not yet booked flights but must travel in early January are being advised to favor departures in the protected morning and early evening bands where possible, choose non-stop itineraries instead of tight connections, and consider routing through less affected southern airports if their destination allows.

For those with existing bookings on January 8 and 9, the priority is to monitor airline communications closely. Many carriers now proactively rebook passengers or offer vouchers several days before a strike to thin out demand on at-risk services.

Accepting an earlier or later departure, or even shifting travel by a day, can often be less stressful than attempting to hold onto the original flight time and risking a same-day cancellation at the airport.

Hand luggage is emerging as a crucial tool for maintaining flexibility. With ground handlers among those planning walkouts, checked baggage is likely to be a major chokepoint, especially at Milan and Venice.

Traveling with carry on only makes it easier to accept last-minute rerouting or to switch to rail and bus alternatives if flights are heavily delayed or partially canceled.

Travelers are also being reminded to ensure that their contact details are correctly stored in airline booking systems so that automated alerts by text or email can reach them promptly.

Those who booked via online travel agencies or third-party platforms should verify which company is responsible for rebooking and customer care in the event of disruption, as lines of responsibility can become blurred in complex itineraries.

FAQ

Q1. How serious is the current disruption at Italian airports?
The disruption is significant, combining severe winter weather, intermittent volcanic ash in Sicily and multiple overlapping strikes by ground handlers and cabin crew. While not every airport is affected in the same way at the same time, the overall effect is a higher risk of delays, cancellations and long queues across the country, especially from January 8 to 10.

Q2. Which days are expected to be the worst for air travel in Italy?
Travel risk analysts and strike calendars highlight January 9 as the most critical day for aviation, with national ground handling strikes and major cabin crew walkouts scheduled. January 8 is also sensitive for Venice and Treviso due to a local air-sector strike, and the surrounding days are vulnerable to knock-on effects from weather and aircraft being out of position.

Q3. Which airports are most affected by the strikes and storms?
Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate are considered highly exposed due to both national and local ground handling actions, as well as potential winter weather. Venice Marco Polo and Treviso face targeted strikes on January 8 in addition to regional storms. Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino are less affected by localized strikes but are still vulnerable to broader weather-related delays and national actions involving airlines.

Q4. Are flights during certain times of day more likely to operate?
Yes. Under Italian rules, flights during the protected time bands of 07:00 to 10:00 and 18:00 to 21:00 are generally safeguarded from cancellation solely due to strike action. Airlines often move services into these windows where possible. However, severe weather or operational constraints can still lead to delays or cancellations even within protected periods.

Q5. How is Mount Etna’s eruption affecting flights?
The ongoing flank eruption at Mount Etna has produced ash emissions that occasionally threaten airspace around Catania and eastern Sicily. When ash clouds drift toward flight paths, authorities may impose temporary restrictions, causing delays, diversions or short-term suspensions of operations at Catania. Palermo and other airports can sometimes serve as alternatives, but schedules may still be disrupted.

Q6. What rights do passengers have if their flight is canceled because of strikes?
Passengers departing from or arriving in the European Union are covered by EU air passenger rules, which typically guarantee rebooking or a refund when flights are canceled. Eligibility for financial compensation depends on the circumstances and whether the airline can argue that the disruption was caused by extraordinary factors beyond its control. When weather and strikes interact, compensation claims can become complex, so travelers should document all communications and keep receipts for expenses.

Q7. Is it safer to travel with only hand luggage during this period?
Traveling with hand luggage only is strongly recommended where practical. With ground handling staff participating in strikes and airports already strained by winter conditions, checked bags are more likely to be delayed or mishandled. Carry on bags make it easier to accept rerouting, move quickly through crowded terminals and switch to alternative transport if necessary.

Q8. Should travelers consider rerouting or changing their travel dates?
If plans are flexible, rerouting or shifting travel to dates outside the most intense strike period can significantly reduce stress. Moving flights into protected time bands, choosing alternative Italian airports less exposed to local strikes, or traveling a day earlier or later are all strategies that airlines and travel agents are encouraging, especially for long-haul passengers with important connections.

Q9. How far in advance will airlines notify passengers of changes?
The timing varies by carrier, but many airlines try to notify customers of planned cancellations or schedule changes at least 24 to 48 hours before a strike. However, decisions can also be made on the day if weather or staff availability deteriorates unexpectedly. This makes it essential for passengers to check their flight status regularly and ensure their contact information is up to date.

Q10. Is it still advisable to book new trips to Italy in the coming days?
New bookings are still possible, but travelers should approach plans with caution. Those who must travel in early January should prioritize flexible fares, avoid tight connections, and build generous buffers around time-sensitive events. For leisure trips without fixed dates, considering travel slightly later in the month, once the main strike dates and current storm system have passed, may provide a smoother experience.