EasyJet Pilots & Ground Handling Employee Strikes In Italy March 24, 2025

There will be complete travel chaos in Italy on Monday, March 24, 2025, when EasyJet captains and many ground-haling company employees strike for 24 hours.

The government has issued a list of flights to the islands and intercontinental ones that must NOT be affected by these strikes. Also, this work action must not affect flights scheduled to depart between 7 AM and 10 AM and 6 PM and 9 PM.

Affected ground handling companies:

Airport Handling, Aviapartner, Aviation Services, BGY International Services, Pantelleria Airport Management, GH Italy, Sagat Handling, Sogaerdyn, Swissport, and Tuscany Airports Handling

EasyJet Pilot Strike

The airline tries to replace some of the striking pilots with non-unionized ones.

Remember that EasyJet is bound by EC 261/2004, which also applies when the airline’s direct employees are striking.

Passengers are eligible for cash compensation if their flight is canceled and the airline cannot rebook them to their final destination without delay. The compensation depends on the segment lengths and the delay in arriving at the final destination.

EasyJet also must provide Duty to Care, which means accommodation and meals in case of long delays.

You may have to book and pay these first by yourself, but EasyJet is responsible to reimburse these expenses.

ENAC’s Announcement of Protected Flights (Translation from Italian):

National Strikes in the Aviation Sector on March 24, 2025:

• Strike by the staff of handling companies associated with Assohandlers operating at Italian airports, 24-hour strike.
• Strike by the pilots of Easy Jet Airlines Limited, 24-hour strike.

Flights to Be Ensured:

In accordance with Law 146/1990 and Decision No. 14/387 dated October 13, 2014, by the Guarantee Commission for the implementation of the strike law in essential public services, in addition to State, military, emergency, health, humanitarian, and rescue flights, the following flights must be ensured:

1. A) All flights, including charter flights, scheduled to depart in the time slots 7:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00;
   All charter flights to/from islands that are regularly authorized or notified before the strike announcement.
2. B) The following flights connecting with the islands with a single daily frequency, excluding continental traffic:

• VOE 1778 VERONA (LIPX) OLBIA (LIEO)
• VOE 1533 VERONA (LIPX) PALERMO (LICJ)
• VOE 1705 FLORENCE (LIRQ) CATANIA (LICC)
• VOE 1704 CATANIA (LICC) FLORENCE (LIRQ)
• WMT 6525 CATANIA (LICC) TURIN (LIMF)
• WMT 6526 TURIN (LIMF) CATANIA (LICC)
• EJU 4241 NAPLES (LIRN) SHARM EL SHEIKH (HESH)
• EJU 4242 SHARM EL SHEIKH (HESH) NAPLES (LIRN)

These flights must be ensured, and the arrival at the destination of all domestic flights already in progress when the strike starts is also mandatory.

1. C) Additionally, the following flights must be ensured:

1. The departure of all scheduled flights before the start of the strike and those delayed for reasons beyond the control of the parties involved.
2. The arrival of international flights at national airports, if the estimated arrival time is within 30 minutes before the strike starts.

1. D) Intercontinental Flights: All intercontinental flights arriving at Italian airports, including transits through national airports, as well as the following intercontinental departures, must be ensured:

Middle East

• MSR 706 MALPENSA (LIMC) CAIRO (HECA)
• QTR 128 MALPENSA (LIMC) DOHA HAMAD (OTHH)
• AHY 036 MALPENSA (LIMC) BAKU (UBBB)
• AIZ 1336 FIUMICINO (LIRF) TEL AVIV (LLBG)
• ISR 342 FIUMICINO (LIRF) TEL AVIV (LLBG)
• ETH 737 MALPENSA (LIMC) ADDIS ABEBA (HAAB)
• ITY 896 FIUMICINO (LIRF) CAIRO (HECA)
• ELY 382 MALPENSA (LIMC) TEL AVIV (LLBG)
• WMT 6391 MALPENSA (LIMC) KING ABDULAZIZ INTL. AIRPORT (OEJN)
• SVA 208 FIUMICINO (LIRF) RIYAD (OERK)
• MEA 236 MALPENSA (LIMC) BEIRUT (OLBA)
• OMA 144 MALPENSA (LIMC) MUSCAT SEEB (OOMS)
• UAE 136 VENICE (LIPZ) DUBAI (OMDB)

North America

• ITY 610 FIUMICINO (LIRF) NEW YORK (KJFK)
• DAL 289 VENICE (LIPZ) NEW YORK (KJFK)
• NOS 787 MALPENSA (LIMC) NEW YORK (KJFK)
• AAL 199 MALPENSA (LIMC) NEW YORK (KJFK)
• UAE 205 MALPENSA (LIMC) NEW YORK (KJFK)
• UAL 41 FIUMICINO (LIRF) NEWARK (KEWR)
• ACA 891 FIUMICINO (LIRF) TORONTO (CYYZ)
• AMX 71 FIUMICINO (LIRF) MEXICO CITY (MMMX)

South America

• TAM 8073 MALPENSA (LIMC) GUARULHOS (SBGR)
• ITY 678 FIUMICINO (LIRF) SAO PAULO (SBGR)

Sub-Asian Continent

• ITY 770 FIUMICINO (LIRF) DELHI (VIDP)
• NOS 192 MALPENSA (LIMC) ZANZIBAR (HTZA)

Southeast Asia Subregion

• CHH 7992 FIUMICINO (LIRF) CHONGQING (ZUCK)
• NOS 976 MALPENSA (LIMC) NANCHINO (ZSNJ)
• CPA 234 MALPENSA (LIMC) HONG KONG (VHHH)
• CAL 76 FIUMICINO (LIRF) TAIPEI (RCTP)
• CCA 950 MALPENSA (LIMC) BEIJING (ZBAA)
• SIA 355 MALPENSA (LIMC) SINGAPORE (WSSS)
• THA 941 MALPENSA (LIMC) BANGKOK (VTBS)
• ITY 758 FIUMICINO (LIRF) BANGKOK (VTBS)
• DKM 1668 MALPENSA (LIMC) ZHENGZHOU (ZHCC)
• GFA 026 MALPENSA (LIMC) FIUMICINO (LIRF) BAHRAIN (OBBI)

Japan and Korea Subregion

• KAL 932 FIUMICINO (LIRF) INCHEON (RKSI)
• ITY 792 FIUMICINO (LIRF) TOKYO HANEDA (RJTT)

Central America and Caribbean Subregion

• ITY 854 FIUMICINO (LIRF) ACCRA (DGAA)

Africa

• NOS 1454 VERONA (LIPX) FIUMICINO (LIRF) DAKAR (GOBD)

Conclusion

Due to EasyJet pilot and Ground Handling employee strikes, tomorrow will be a very challenging travel day in Italy. Expect delays and many cancellations.

At least the ENAC ensures that all these long-haul flights will go forward, as they are protected from the strike actions, as are the flights that depart between 7 AM and 10 AM and 6 PM and 9 PM.

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