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Italy's Friday transport strike was ordered postponed — the union says it is striking anyway

Published October 29, 2026

If you are flying to, from, or within Italy on Friday, October 30, do not assume your flight is cancelled, and do not assume it is safe either — check it on Thursday and again on Friday morning.

• Several unions called a nationwide general strike from 9:00 p.m. Thursday, October 29 to 8:59 p.m. Friday, October 30; the U.S. Embassy in Rome warned flights may be disrupted all day Friday, with rail, taxis, highways and local transport also affected.
• Italy's transport minister, Matteo Salvini, signed an order (204 T) postponing the transport part of the strike, because October 30 to November 5 is a protected no-strike period around All Saints' Day. The USB union called the order illegitimate and says it will strike all day anyway, despite fines reported at €500 to €1,000 a day for workers who walk out.
• The clearest flight risk is in Tuscany: ground staff at Pisa and Florence airports have a separate 24-hour walkout listed for Friday, and it is not clear whether the postponement order covers it. Ground handlers load bags, check in passengers and turn planes around, so delays and cancellations are possible there even if crews are working.
• If a strike does go ahead, flights scheduled from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. and from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. are protected and must operate. Getting to the airport may be the bigger problem: rail was called out from 9:00 p.m. Thursday to 9:00 p.m. Friday and taxis for the full day Friday.
• If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund or a new flight, plus meals and, if you are stuck overnight, a hotel. Cash compensation is different: a strike by airport or other non-airline staff is usually treated as outside the airline's control, so compensation is generally not owed. Keep your receipts and ask the airline for the cancellation reason in writing.