Italy strike on 30 October 2026: Pisa and Florence airport staff called out for 24 hours

Published 26 October 2026 · FlightClaimHQ

Airport staff at Pisa and Florence are called out on a 24-hour strike on Friday 30 October 2026, on the same day as a national general strike called by the USB union, according to Travel Quotidiano and Firenze Post. Italy's strike regulator has questioned whether air transport can be included that day, so the scale of any disruption is uncertain and plans may still change.

What has been announced

According to Travel Quotidiano and Firenze Post, the USB grassroots union has called a national general strike for the whole of Friday 30 October, from 00:00 to 23:59, covering public and private sectors including transport. Separately, a 24-hour strike is called for staff of Toscana Aeroporti, GH Toscana and Consulta at Pisa Galileo Galilei and Florence Peretola airports. Virgilio Notizie lists that action under the USB Lavoro Privato union. These companies run the two airports and handle ground services such as check-in and baggage.

Virgilio Notizie also notes that several smaller unions calling national strikes on 30 October exclude air transport, while for others, including USB, it is not stated whether the air sector is covered.

Why the outcome is uncertain

Italy protects certain peak travel periods from air strikes. According to Travel Quotidiano, 30 October falls within such a protected period, running from 30 October to 5 November around the All Saints holiday, during which strikes in air transport are not allowed. On 13 October the strike guarantee commission asked USB to exclude the transport sector from its action. USB kept its call and is contesting the restriction.

It is therefore not known yet whether flights will be affected, or how much. The situation may change before Friday.

What it means for flights from the UK

Pisa and Florence are popular gateways to Tuscany with direct flights from several UK airports. If the airport strike goes ahead, check-in, baggage handling and turnaround times could suffer, causing delays or cancellations. Under ENAC rules, flights scheduled between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00 must operate during strikes, and ENAC publishes a list of other guaranteed flights.

If you are flying to or from Pisa or Florence on 30 October, check your flight status with your airline before travelling and allow extra time at the airport.

Your rights

If your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure or arrives 3 hours or more late, fixed compensation of £220, £350 or £520 per passenger may be due under UK261, or €250, €400 or €600 under EU261. A strike by airport or ground-handling staff is often treated as an extraordinary circumstance, in which case compensation may not be due, but this depends on the facts. The airline must still offer a refund or an alternative flight and provide meals and, if needed, a hotel.

If your flight is disrupted, 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 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.

Check my compensation

No win, no fee: 25% incl. VAT of the compensation recovered out of court, only if we win. If court action becomes necessary, our total fee is capped at 50% incl. VAT. It covers all procedure costs (court fees, lawyers, enforcement officers), which we advance and bear. If the case is lost, you pay nothing. Any procedure costs the court orders the airline to pay are kept by us. FlightClaimHQ is a trading name of TETRIS GROUP LLC.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an airport strike in Italy on 30 October 2026?

A 24-hour strike is called for staff at Pisa and Florence airports on 30 October, alongside a USB national general strike. Whether air transport can lawfully be included is disputed, so disruption is not certain.

Which flights are guaranteed during an Italian air strike?

According to ENAC, flights scheduled between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00, plus flights on ENAC's published list of guaranteed services.

Sources

Sciopero generale del 30 ottobre: trasporti a rischio, dai treni agli aerei (Travel Quotidiano (23 October 2026))
Sciopero trasporti 30 ottobre: stop di 24 ore per treni, bus e aerei. Anche in Toscana (Firenze Post (24 October 2026))
Scioperi settimana dal 26 ottobre all'1 novembre 2026, stop aerei, treni, scuola e sanità: le città coinvolte (Virgilio Notizie (24 October 2026))
Voli garantiti in caso di sciopero (ENAC, Italian Civil Aviation Authority)

This page is general information about UK261 and is not legal advice. Amounts and conditions depend on the facts of your flight.