October is Italy’s busiest month for transport strikes, and UK travellers are right in the middle of it. After Milan’s 24-hour metro and bus strike on 9 October, Florence’s tram network faces a 24-hour walkout today, 10 October, and Friday 16 October is confirmed as Italy’s biggest aviation strike day of the year.
Today: Florence tram strike
Florence’s GEST tram operator is on 24-hour strike today, covering both the T1 line (Scandicci to Santa Maria Novella station) and the T2 line (Peretola Airport to Santa Maria Novella). Guaranteed service bands run from 06:30 to 09:30 and 17:00 to 20:00, so the T2 airport tram link is at risk from 09:30 to 17:00 and after 20:00. A taxi, a pre-booked transfer or the Volainbus shuttle are the alternatives.
Yesterday in Milan, the ATM Group 24-hour strike covered all five metro lines, trams and buses. Guaranteed bands were start of service to 08:45 and 15:00 to 18:00, with services at risk outside those windows. The M4 link to Linate Airport was affected outside guaranteed hours.
16 October: Italy’s biggest aviation strike day
Friday 16 October packs four overlapping actions. An easyJet Italy cabin crew 24-hour nationwide strike runs 00:00 to 23:59, called by the USB union. ENAV air traffic control stops work from 13:00 to 17:00, affecting all Italian airspace including overflights. Venice Marco Polo security staff strike for 24 hours, and Tuscany airports ground staff at Pisa and Florence airports walk out for 24 hours. A five-union pilots and cabin crew strike continues on Saturday 17 October.
Under Italian law, flights departing between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00 are protected during ATC strikes, so flights in those windows should run.
Also on the calendar
- 12 to 13 October: Sicily RFI rail infrastructure strike from 21:01 on 12 October to 21:00 on 13 October.
- 14 October: CGIL regional general strike across Tuscany, with rail services affected from 09:01 to 17:00 and local transport facing four-hour stoppages.
- 30 October: Italy’s national general strike, 24 hours.
- November outlook: Bari Airport four-hour ATC strike on 6 November, a nationwide four-hour ATC strike on 21 November, and a Milan Malpensa 24-hour ATC strike on 22 November.
Tips for UK travellers
- Check your airline’s app before heading to the airport. Airlines often issue free date-change waivers ahead of confirmed strikes, and shifting an Italy trip from the 16th to the 15th or 17th avoids the worst day.
- Pre-book airport transfers for Florence and Milan on strike days. The tram and metro links to the airports are the weak points.
- Keep screenshots of cancellation notices and receipts. If your flight is cancelled, you can choose a refund or rerouting, and because the 16 October easyJet action is the airline’s own crew, cash compensation of up to £350 under UK261 may apply.
