easyJet plans 24-hour Italy strike as Pisa and Florence face airport stoppages

Disruption overview

A national walkout by easyJet pilots and cabin crew is scheduled across Italy on 16 October 2026, alongside stoppages at Pisa Airport and Florence Airport involving airport workers, and separate action by Poste Air Cargo employees. The easyJet strike will last from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm, although not all flights will be canceled and services scheduled from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm should normally operate. If you're traveling, check with your airline and both airports before setting off, as individual services may still change. Compensation under EC 261 may apply to disruption caused by easyJet's own staff strike, while airport worker stoppages are treated differently.

Disruption details

easyJet pilots and cabin crew in Italy are set to hold a 24-hour national strike on Friday 16 October 2026. Separate stoppages are also planned at Pisa Airport and Florence Airport that day, with delays and cancellations expected.

If you're traveling that Friday, this could mean a longer wait or a change to your plans. Not every easyJet flight will be canceled, however. The impact will depend on how many workers take part, so it's important to check your own flight rather than assume it won't operate.

The easyJet walkout will run from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm. USB Lavoro Privato, the private-sector branch of the Unione Sindacale di Base union, called the action.

The stoppages in Tuscany involve employees of Toscana Aeroporti, GH Toscana, and Consulta at Pisa and Florence airports. Employees of Poste Air Cargo are also due to strike on the same day.

For passengers, the distinction between the easyJet strike and the airport worker stoppages matters. Both could affect travel, but compensation rights can depend on which action causes your flight's cancellation or delay.

The easyJet dispute centers on a contract renewal signed on 15 September 2026. An internal consultation organized by other unions saw pilots and flight attendants back the agreement. USB disputes how that process was handled, saying the results were published late and its request to observe the vote was refused.

USB says its concerns go beyond pay and contract terms to include union representation and employees' say in workplace decisions. It argues that the agreement weakens workers' entitlement to a 13th-month salary payment and delivers only minimal real wage increases.

The union also says that back pay covering the period without a contract was largely absorbed by the 13th-month payments. These objections are behind its decision to call the national walkout.

Italy's air-transport strike rules protect flights scheduled within 2 daily time bands. Services in these windows should normally operate:

• Morning: 7:00 am to 10:00 am

• Evening: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Those protected hours aren't a guarantee that your individual service won't change. Before leaving for the airport, check your flight status with your airline and with both your departure and arrival airports. This applies even if your scheduled flight falls within a protected window.

If your flight is canceled, your airline must offer an alternative journey or a refund if you no longer wish to travel. Rerouting and rebooking can help you continue your trip, while a refund may be the right option if the changed arrangements don't work for you.

Compensation is a separate question. If your easyJet flight is covered by EC 261 and the airline's own staff strike causes a cancellation or a delay of more than 3 hours, you may be entitled to up to $650 compensation. Eligibility depends on your flight and its specific circumstances.

Airport worker strikes are treated differently because they're outside the airline's control, so compensation may not apply to disruption caused by those stoppages. You can still have rights to care and assistance, including food and refreshments during a long wait, and accommodation and transportation if an overnight stay is needed.

If your journey is disrupted, you don't have to work out your compensation eligibility alone. AirHelp's free flight checker can help you find out whether your specific flight qualifies under EC 261.

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