Transportation Strikes in Italy, July 20–25, 2026: Dates and Possible Disruptions

From July 20 to 25, 2026, a series of strikes by aviation, rail, public, and maritime transport workers will take place in Italy. Learn more about the dates of potential disruptions, the cities affected, and the carriers involved in the protests

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Travelers currently in Italy or planning a trip to the country from July 20 to 25 should check public transportation schedules in advance. Over the course of six days, strikes may affect city buses, easyJet flights, airport services, railways, and ferries.

The strikes will take place at various times and do not mean a complete shutdown of the country’s transportation system. Some strikes will be localized and will affect only specific companies or regions. However, significant disruptions to air travel are possible on July 21, and to rail and freight services on July 23–24.

Information about the planned actions was published by Sky TG24 and the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Here’s when and where strikes are expected and what passengers need to keep in mind.

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July 20 – Public transportation strikes in four Italian cities

A series of transportation strikes began on Monday, July 20. The strikes are localized and involve employees of specific bus companies in Genoa, Prato, Latina, and Florence.

1. Genoa: AMT staff will stop work for four hours—from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

2. Prato: Autolinee Toscane employees will strike for eight hours—from 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

3. Latina: CSC Mobilità employees have announced a 24-hour strike. The risk of cancellations and long intervals between trips will be highest here.

4. Florence: Autolinee Toscane staff will stop work from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, so disruptions are expected mainly in the evening.

The strikes may affect city and commuter bus routes. Passengers should check announcements from local transit operators, as some services may operate on a reduced schedule.

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July 21 – easyJet and Italian airport workers’ strike

The most significant disruptions this week may occur on Tuesday, July 21. easyJet flight crew will hold a nationwide 24-hour strike—from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. As a result, the airline may cancel some flights or reschedule them.

Several strikes by ground and airport staff are also scheduled:

1. Milan-Malpensa: Employees of ALHA and MLE-Bcube will strike for 24 hours. FedEx staff have announced a separate 24-hour strike;

2. Lamezia Terme: The strike by SACAL GH ground handling staff will last from 00:00 to 24:00;

3. Naples and Salerno: GH Napoli and Sky Services staff will stop work from 10:00 to 14:00;

4. Olbia and Alghero: airport employees will go on strike from 13:00 to 17:00.

In Italy, protected time slots are in effect during aviation strikes. According to the Italian National Civil Aviation Authority, scheduled flights are to operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. However, delays are still possible during these hours due to passenger backlogs and schedule changes.

Passengers flying with easyJet and other carriers departing from the listed airports should check their flight status before departure. This is especially true for midday departures, when employees from several different services will be on strike simultaneously.

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July 22–23 – Strike by the ferry company Grandi Navi Veloci

On Wednesday, July 22, employees of the shipping company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) will join the protests. The nationwide strike will begin at 12:00 p.m. and last for 24 hours—until approximately noon on July 23.

The strike will involve company staff and crew members. During this period, delays, rescheduling, or cancellations of individual ferry trips are possible. The greatest risk will be for departures scheduled after 12:00 p.m. on July 22 and in the morning of the following day.

GNV passengers should check the status of their trip on the carrier’s website or at the port of departure. If a ferry is canceled, the company must notify passengers of available rebooking options or ticket refunds. Do not travel to the port without checking in advance, especially if your trip involves transporting a vehicle or a connecting journey.

July 23–24 – Rail and Freight Transport Strike

On Thursday, July 23, at 9:00 p.m., a 24-hour nationwide strike organized by the CUB Trasporti and SGB unions will begin. It will last until 8:59 p.m. on Friday, July 24, and will involve employees of companies in the railway sector and rail freight transport.

The strike may result in the cancellation of some trains, route reductions, and schedule changes. However, employees of Italo, the private high-speed rail operator, will not be participating in the strike. Nevertheless, Italo passengers should also monitor the carrier’s announcements, as disruptions to the rail infrastructure may affect the operation of other trains.

A separate 24-hour strike during the same period will be held by employees of the RFI division in the Verona area, who are responsible for maintenance, administrative, and engineering work. Passengers are advised to check their train number and status immediately before departure, and to avoid planning short layovers on the evening of July 23 and throughout the following day.

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July 24 – Public Transportation Strikes in Salerno, Marche, and Bari

On Friday, July 24, local strikes by public transportation workers will take place simultaneously with the nationwide rail strike. These strikes will affect three regions and occur at different times.

1. Salerno: Staff of the Sita Sud bus company will strike from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;

2. Marche Region: Employees of local public transportation companies will stop work from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.;

3. Bari: Employees of Ferrovie Sud Est and bus services will go on strike from 7:45 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Passengers should note that the rail strike will continue until 8:59 p.m. that same day. Therefore, on July 24, disruptions may occur simultaneously in train service, regional bus service, and other local transportation. Before traveling, check the schedule of your specific operator and allow extra time for transfers.

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July 25 – An eight-hour public transportation strike in Sardinia

On Saturday, July 25, employees of the regional transportation operator ARST will go on strike. The strike will last a total of eight hours and will affect the provinces of Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro, and Oristano.

ARST operates bus, rail, and urban transit routes in Sardinia, so disruptions may make it difficult to travel both between towns and within individual cities. The official strike schedule currently lists “varying strike patterns,” meaning that service interruptions may differ depending on the province and mode of transportation.

Passengers should check the schedule for their specific route on the ARST website closer to their trip. It’s especially important to plan transfers to airports and seaports carefully, as there may be fewer alternative flights or ferries available on a weekend.

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What should tourists do during transportation strikes in Italy?

A strike does not always mean the complete cancellation of services or a total halt to all transportation. However, schedules may change even during the day, so passengers should check the information immediately before departure.

To minimize the risk of travel disruptions:

1. Check the status of your flight or train on the carrier’s website or app

2. Enable notifications for schedule changes

3. Avoid planning short layovers between different modes of transportation

4. Keep your tickets, boarding passes, and receipts for meals, hotels, and transfers

5. Do not purchase a new ticket on your own until you have confirmed the rebooking terms with the carrier

If a flight is canceled

Passengers have the right to choose a refund, an alternative route, or rebooking for another date. While waiting, the airline must also provide meals and accommodations if necessary. If an easyJet flight is canceled due to a strike by the carrier’s own staff, the passenger may be entitled to compensation ranging from 250 to 600 euros, depending on the flight distance and the circumstances of the cancellation. A strike by third-party airport services may be considered an extraordinary circumstance under which compensation is not paid, but the right to a refund, an alternative route, and assistance remains.

If a train is canceled or delayed

If a delay of 60 minutes or more is expected, passengers may request a refund of the ticket price or free re-routing to their destination. Compensation amounts to 25% of the ticket price for delays of 60 to 119 minutes and 50% for delays of 120 minutes or more. A strike by railway company employees is not considered an extraordinary circumstance; however, compensation is not paid if the passenger has opted for a full refund of the ticket price.

If a ferry is canceled

The carrier must offer a refund or an alternative route. For departures delayed by more than 90 minutes, the passenger is also entitled to meals and, if necessary, overnight accommodations. These rights are governed by EU regulations for maritime passengers.

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