Italy airport strikes in December 2026: Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino on 14th, Bologna on 15th and 16th

By FlightClaimHQ Newsroom
Published 13 November 2026, 06:30 (UK time)

Three strikes affecting airports are announced in Italy for mid-December 2026: ground-handling staff at Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino on Monday 14 December, air traffic staff at Bologna on Tuesday 15 December and cleaning staff at Bologna on Wednesday 16 December. The dates are listed by Scioperi Italia and Aeroporto.net, which draw on the notices registered with the Italian transport ministry. Strikes in Italy are often called off or shortened at the last minute, so these dates may still change.

Monday 14 December: Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino

Staff of the ground-handling company Aviation Services are called to strike for 24 hours, from midnight to midnight, at Rome's two airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino, by the FAST-Confsal union, according to both sources. Ground handlers deal with check-in, baggage and aircraft turnaround, so a walkout can cause delays and, for the airlines using this company, cancellations. The sources do not say which airlines use Aviation Services.

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Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 December: Bologna

On 15 December, staff of ENAV, Italy's air navigation service provider, at Bologna airport are called to a 24-hour strike by the UILT-UIL union. On 16 December, staff of the airport's cleaning contractor La Lucente are due to stop work from 11:00 to 15:00, called by FILCAMS-CGIL and UILT-UIL. An air traffic control strike at Bologna is the one most likely to affect flights to and from the UK on these two days.

Guaranteed flights

Under the rules of ENAC, the Italian civil aviation authority, flights scheduled between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00 must operate during air transport strikes, and ENAC publishes a list of other guaranteed flights. If you are flying to or from Rome or Bologna on these dates, check your flight status with your airline shortly before travelling and allow extra time at the airport.

Your rights

Whatever the cause, if your flight is cancelled the airline must offer a refund or an alternative flight, and provide meals and, if needed, a hotel while you wait. Fixed compensation of £220, £350 or £520 under UK261, or €250, €400 or €600 under EU261, applies to cancellations notified less than 14 days ahead and to arrivals 3 hours or more late, but a strike by air traffic control or by airport contractors is usually treated as an extraordinary circumstance. FlightClaimHQ can check your case and handle the claim for you.

Your rights if your flight is affected

You may be entitled to fixed compensation per passenger if:

your flight arrived at its final destination 3 hours or more late;
your flight was cancelled and you were told less than 14 days before departure;

UK261 (flights departing from the UK, or arriving in the UK with a UK or EU airline): £220, £350 or £520 depending on flight distance.

EU261 (flights departing from the EU, or arriving in the EU with an EU airline): €250, €400 or €600 depending on flight distance.

You cannot claim if the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside the airline's control, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes. The airline must prove it.

Whatever the cause, while you wait the airline must provide care: meals and refreshments, and a hotel room with transfers if you are stuck overnight. Keep receipts for reasonable expenses.

Frequently asked questions

Are the December strikes in Italy confirmed?

They are strike notices listed by Scioperi Italia and Aeroporto.net as of 13 November 2026. Italian strikes can be called off, postponed or shortened, so check again close to your travel date.

Will I get compensation if my flight is cancelled because of these strikes?

A refund or rerouting and care are always due. Fixed compensation is rarely due when air traffic control or airport contractors strike, as this is usually an extraordinary circumstance, but each case depends on the facts.