Key dates: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in autumn 2024

People travelling to, from or across Italy may face disruption over the coming weeks as trade unions have called multiple walkouts affecting air, rail and public transport services.

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Transport strikes are common during Italy’s autumn months, and this year will be no exception as unions representing airport, airline, rail and public transport staff have announced multiple walkouts which may affect the travel plans of both international visitors and locals.
Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on a handy online calendar (available in Italian).
Here’s a look at the walkouts that you should know about if you’re travelling to, from or across Italy in the coming weeks.

September 30th – 23-hour regional train staff strike in Lombardy
People travelling across Italy’s northern Lombardy region by train may face delays or cancellations on Monday, September 30th, as staff at regional train operator Trenord plan to strike for 23 hours – from 3am on Monday to 2am on Tuesday, October 1st. 
Further information will be available on Trenord’s website closer to the date of the protest.
October 5th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Public transport passengers may face delays or cancellations on Saturday, October 5th, as staff at bus, tram and commuter train operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours. 
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The timing and impact of the strike, which is backed by union ORSA, will vary from city to city, but a number of minimum services will be guaranteed to operate at peak commute times.
October 11th – Air traffic controllers’ strike in Milan and Palermo 
Passengers flying to or from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Palermo Falcone Borsellino may face disruption on Friday, October 11th, as staff at air traffic control agency Enav plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm.
Detailed information on guaranteed flights is expected to be released on the Italian Civil Aviation Authority’s website closer to the date of the walkout.
October 12th – 24-hour nationwide rail staff strike
Train passengers in Italy may experience disruption on Saturday, October 12th from 9pm as rail staff around Italy plan to strike for 24 hours until Sunday, October 13th.
The walkout may impact both regional and long-distance trains run by state operator Trenitalia, as well as journeys operated by private company Italo.
While rail operators are legally required to guarantee a number of minimum services (servizi minimi) during strikes taking place on weekdays, there’s no such requirement for weekend walkouts.
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October 18th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Public transport passengers may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, October 18th, as staff at operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours. 
As it’s often the case with public transport walkouts in Italy, the level of disruption faced by passengers should vary from city to city depending on the number of transport workers participating in the protest.
Under national strike laws, public transport companies are required to guarantee the operation of a number of essential services (servizi minimi) during staff strikes. Further information on such services is expected to become available closer to the date of the walkout.
October 27th – Easyjet airline strike
Pilots from budget airline Easyjet are set to strike on Sunday, October 27th between 1pm and 5pm. 
Easyjet passengers travelling on that day are advised to look at the airlines website for possible cancellations.
November 8th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Travellers may face days and/or cancellations on Friday, November 8th as public transport operators around the country are scheduled to strike for 24 hours.
The level of disruption to services varies from city to city and from transport company to transport company. 
Further details on services will become available nearer the day of the strike.
November 29th – 24-hour baggage handling strike in Milan
Plane passengers flying to and from Milan Linate and Milan Malapensa airports may encounter delays to flight services as baggage handling staff are set to strike for 24 hours from Friday, November 29th.
Further information will be available nearer the time.
How bad are strikes in Italy?
Strikes in Italy are frequent but not all of them cause significant disruption for travellers.
The severity of disruption caused by any strike in the country largely depends on how many staff in any part of the transport sector decide to participate.
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And, even in the case of highly disruptive strikes, some essential services (servizi minimi) are guaranteed to run at peak times. 
This goes for all transport sectors, from local public transport to rail and air travel.
Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.

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Transport strikes are common during Italy’s autumn months, and this year will be no exception as unions representing airport, airline, rail and public transport staff have announced multiple walkouts which may affect the travel plans of both international visitors and locals.
Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on a handy online calendar (available in Italian).
Here’s a look at the walkouts that you should know about if you’re travelling to, from or across Italy in the coming weeks.
September 30th – 23-hour regional train staff strike in Lombardy
People travelling across Italy’s northern Lombardy region by train may face delays or cancellations on Monday, September 30th, as staff at regional train operator Trenord plan to strike for 23 hours – from 3am on Monday to 2am on Tuesday, October 1st. 
Further information will be available on Trenord’s website closer to the date of the protest.
October 5th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Public transport passengers may face delays or cancellations on Saturday, October 5th, as staff at bus, tram and commuter train operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours. 
The timing and impact of the strike, which is backed by union ORSA, will vary from city to city, but a number of minimum services will be guaranteed to operate at peak commute times.
October 11th – Air traffic controllers’ strike in Milan and Palermo 
Passengers flying to or from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Palermo Falcone Borsellino may face disruption on Friday, October 11th, as staff at air traffic control agency Enav plan to strike from 1pm to 5pm.
Detailed information on guaranteed flights is expected to be released on the Italian Civil Aviation Authority’s website closer to the date of the walkout.
October 12th – 24-hour nationwide rail staff strike
Train passengers in Italy may experience disruption on Saturday, October 12th from 9pm as rail staff around Italy plan to strike for 24 hours until Sunday, October 13th.
The walkout may impact both regional and long-distance trains run by state operator Trenitalia, as well as journeys operated by private company Italo.
While rail operators are legally required to guarantee a number of minimum services (servizi minimi) during strikes taking place on weekdays, there’s no such requirement for weekend walkouts.
October 18th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Public transport passengers may face delays and/or cancellations on Friday, October 18th, as staff at operators around the country plan to strike for 24 hours. 
As it’s often the case with public transport walkouts in Italy, the level of disruption faced by passengers should vary from city to city depending on the number of transport workers participating in the protest.
Under national strike laws, public transport companies are required to guarantee the operation of a number of essential services (servizi minimi) during staff strikes. Further information on such services is expected to become available closer to the date of the walkout.
October 27th – Easyjet airline strike
Pilots from budget airline Easyjet are set to strike on Sunday, October 27th between 1pm and 5pm. 
Easyjet passengers travelling on that day are advised to look at the airlines website for possible cancellations.
November 8th – 24-hour nationwide public transport strike
Travellers may face days and/or cancellations on Friday, November 8th as public transport operators around the country are scheduled to strike for 24 hours.
The level of disruption to services varies from city to city and from transport company to transport company. 
Further details on services will become available nearer the day of the strike.
November 29th – 24-hour baggage handling strike in Milan
Plane passengers flying to and from Milan Linate and Milan Malapensa airports may encounter delays to flight services as baggage handling staff are set to strike for 24 hours from Friday, November 29th.
Further information will be available nearer the time.
How bad are strikes in Italy?
Strikes in Italy are frequent but not all of them cause significant disruption for travellers.
The severity of disruption caused by any strike in the country largely depends on how many staff in any part of the transport sector decide to participate.
And, even in the case of highly disruptive strikes, some essential services (servizi minimi) are guaranteed to run at peak times. 
This goes for all transport sectors, from local public transport to rail and air travel.
Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.