More than 20,000 easyJet passengers travelling to and from Italy tomorrow, Saturday, face disruption after unions representing the airline’s pilots and flight attendants announced a nationwide walk-out between 1pm and 5pm.
easyJet flies to Italy from 12 UK airports. including London Gatwick, the largest hub; Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham; Luton; Bristol; Newcastle; Edinburgh; and Belfast International .
Naples Airport operator GESAC phas warned of “possible delays and cancellations”, urging travellers to check the status of their flights.
The industrial action, which has been organised by pilots’ union ANPAC and cabin-crew union USB Lavoro Aereo, is a result of stalled talks over roster patterns, post-pandemic wage restoration and the integration of new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
The stoppage falls outside Italy’s legally protected ‘guaranteed flight’ windows, meaning a significant share of domestic and intra-Schengen services could be grounded. Italy legally mandates “guaranteed flight” periods, usually 7am–10am and 6pm–9pm, Since this strike occurs between 1pm and 5pm, it is specifically timed to maximise disruption.
easyJet operates more than 130 daily departures at this time of year across Milan Malpensa, Naples, Venice and Rome Fiumicino. If your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you a choice between a full refund or re-routing to your destination at the earliest opportunity. Critically, if easyJet cannot fly you out promptly, they should book you onto a flight with an alternative carrier.
Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of flight compensation specialists SkyRefund, said, “Passengers should be aware that while airlines often cite strikes as ‘extraordinary circumstances’, industrial action by an airline’s own employees, such as this walk-out by easyJet pilots and cabin crew, is generally considered within the carrier’s control under UK and Under EU 261/2004 regulations.
Because this strike stems from internal disputes over wages and rosters, it does not typically meet the criteria for an ‘unforeseeable’ event. If your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours, you aren’t just entitled to a seat on the next available flight; you are likely eligible for fixed financial compensation of up to £520 (€600) per person.”
