Italy airport strikes on 13 June 2026: what easyJet passengers need to know

If you're flying with easyJet in Italy this Saturday, you may be facing disruption. The airline's Italian pilots and cabin crew are walking out for 18 hours on 13 June 2026 — and if your flight is canceled at short notice or delayed by 3 or more hours as a result, you could be owed up to €600 in compensation. Several other airport walkouts are landing on the same day, so here's what's happening and where you stand.

easyJet's Italy-based pilots and cabin crew are striking from 6:00 am to midnight on Saturday 13 June. It's the single biggest action of the day and the one most likely to hit travelers across multiple airports, with cancellations, longer waits and missed connections all on the cards.

Three separate airport walkouts are layered on top of it, which means even passengers on other airlines could feel the knock-on effects:

•   Verona Villafranca — ENAV air traffic control staff strike for the same 18 hours, the heaviest single-airport impact, affecting all carriers using the airport.

•   Cagliari Elmas — Sogaer ground-handling and security staff strike for 18 hours, with an extra four-hour ground-staff stoppage from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

•   Milan Linate — Sky Service ground-handling staff strike from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, slowing boarding, baggage and aircraft turnaround.

And it doesn't end there: a second strike day is set for 26 June 2026, when ground-handling staff at every Italian airport walk out for a full 24 hours.

Yes — and this is the important part. A strike by an airline's own pilots or cabin crew is not classed as extraordinary circumstances under EU air passenger rights regulation EC 261. That means easyJet is responsible for the disruption, and you could be owed up to €600.

You may be eligible if:

•   Your easyJet flight is canceled less than 14 days before departure, or

•   Your flight arrives at your destination 3 or more hours late

And your flight either departed from an EU airport, or was operated by an EU airline flying into the EU.

How much compensation could I receive?

EC 261 sets fixed compensation amounts based on flight distance — so the further you were flying, the more you could be owed:

•       Flights up to 1,500 km — €250 per person

•       Flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km — €400 per person

•       Flights over 3,500 km — €600 per person

What about the airport strikes at Verona, Cagliari and Milan?

This is where it's different. Disruption caused by air traffic control action — like the ENAV walkout at Verona — is treated as extraordinary circumstances, so it doesn't qualify for compensation. The same goes for the ground-handling and security strikes at Cagliari and Milan Linate, which are third-party staff rather than the airline's own. You'd still be entitled to care and a refund or rerouting in these cases — just not the cash compensation. If your easyJet flight is hit by the crew strike specifically, though, that's the one that counts.

Not necessarily. Italian law guarantees flights in two protected windows on any strike day — 7:00 am to 10:00 am and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm — and ENAC publishes a list of guaranteed flights that must operate even outside those hours. The riskiest slots are roughly 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, so a flight in that midday stretch on 13 June carries the highest chance of being delayed or canceled. Either way, check your specific flight with easyJet the night before and again on the morning of departure rather than assuming the worst.

What should I do at the airport?

Start by checking your eligibility for compensation — you could be owed up to €600. Check your flight for free here.

Even if your flight ends up operating, Italian airports will be under real pressure on 13 June. A few things help:

•   Check in online and travel with hand luggage only where you can — it sidesteps the ground-handling delays entirely.

•   Arrive early. Even protected flights will see longer queues at check-in and security.

•   Avoid tight connections through Italian hubs. A ground slowdown can hold up baggage and turnaround even when your flight leaves on time.

•   Keep everything — boarding passes, receipts, and any written notice of the delay or cancellation. You'll need it if you claim.

Think you're owed compensation?

If your easyJet flight is disrupted by the crew strike on 13 June, don't leave money on the table. Check your compensation with AirHelp — it's free, takes 2 minutes, and we'll handle the airline for you.

My flight's delayed — what am I entitled to?

If you land at your destination 3 or more hours after your scheduled arrival time, you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation. The delay at the airport doesn't count — it's your arrival time that matters. Check your flight for free with our compensation tool.

While you wait, easyJet has a duty of care towards you. From 2 hours of delay, the airline must provide:

•       Meals and refreshments

•       Access to communication (phone calls or emails)

•       Hotel accommodation and transport to/from the hotel, if an overnight stay becomes necessary

Hold onto every receipt. Reasonable costs you've paid out of pocket — food, drinks, accommodation — can be reclaimed from the airline.

easyJet isn't responding — what can I do?

It happens. When thousands of passengers are all trying to rebook at once, airline phone lines and websites can grind to a halt. Here's how to give yourself the best chance:

•       Don't rely on just one channel — try the app, website, phone, and social media

•       Look for a self-service rebooking option in your original booking confirmation

•       If you used a travel agent, they can often act on your behalf and may have faster access

•       Document everything — note the times and methods you used to try to reach the airline

If you end up booking your own alternative flight because you can't get through, keep all your receipts. You may be able to recover those costs.

How do I claim?

The good news is you don't need to rush. You have up to 3 years to submit a compensation claim under EC 261 (exact limits vary slightly by country). That said, there's no advantage in waiting — the sooner you claim, the sooner you get paid.

You can check your eligibility and start your claim at airhelp.com. AirHelp handles everything — gathering evidence, dealing with the airline, and chasing payment if needed. We only charge a fee if we win compensation for you.

The last thing you need on a strike day is to be caught off guard at the airport. The free AirHelp app monitors your flight and sends you instant alerts about cancellations, gate changes, and delays — so you always know where you stand.

It also keeps your passenger rights and claim history in one place. Download it before you travel.