Fifty thousand passengers, according to ItaliaRimborso estimates, risk finding themselves with a canceled or delayed flight on the last Sunday of the full summer season. On September 13th, Italian air transport stopped again, and this time the mobilization did not concern a single national strike but an overlap of distinct agitations, proclaimed by different acronyms and concentrated above all on Rome, Tuscany and Sardinia.
Who crosses their arms and where
The most extensive detention concerns ADR Security staff at Fiumicino and Ciampino airports: twenty-four hours, from midnight to midnight, proclaimed by FAST-CONFSAL. Aviation Services workers also stop at the same airports between 11am and 3pm. In Pisa and Florence the stoppage of the staff of Toscana Aeroporti, GH Toscana and Consulta lasts four hours, again from 11am to 3pm, but the protest leaves a longer aftermath: abstention from overtime is expected until 12 October, which means that the inconveniences in the Tuscan airports could also be felt in the following weeks. At a national level, easyJet flight staff are also on strike for twenty-four hours, with one exception: flights to and from Cagliari remain affected only in the 11am-3pm time slot. Precisely in the Sardinian port, between 1pm and 5pm, Sogaer’s security staff stops, while in Alghero and Olbia the stoppage of Sogeaal and Geasar covers the whole day. The complete picture, updated in real time, can be consulted on the strike portal of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Guaranteed flights and what to do before leaving
Enac should shortly publish, as per practice, the list of connections excluded from the strike, generally those in the early hours of the morning and late evening. In the meantime, the companies are already notifying those who have a reservation on the critical day, offering alternatives where possible. Anyone who finds themselves flying on September 13th would do well to check the status of their flight by entering the booking code on the company website or on that of the departure airport, so as to be aware of any changes to the timetable or route in good time.
What does the law provide in case of cancellation?
If the flight were to be cancelled, the passenger would be entitled to re-routing on an alternative connection or, failing that, to a full refund of the ticket. If the company does not provide this assistance, it would be possible to organize yourself, even purchasing a new flight with a different carrier, as long as you keep all the receipts for the various items, therefore transfers, hotels, meals and of course the new ticket. It must be said that EU Regulation 261/2004 does not recognize financial compensation (which normally ranges from 250 to 600 euros) when the cancellation depends on a strike in the Italian aviation sector, a circumstance which the legislation considers exceptional. However, reimbursement of the documented expenses necessary to reach the final destination remains guaranteed. These are the statements of Felice D’Angelo, CEO of ItaliaRimborso:
The summer season has highlighted a constant growth in travellers, but at the same time there has been an increase in disruption and strikes, with passengers forced to suffer delays or cancellations. Those who are not reprotected can replace the company’s assistance, bear the costs of reaching the destination and subsequently initiate a reimbursement claim by contacting the carrier or a claim company like ours. In the event of a strike, you are not entitled to the financial compensation provided for by Regulation 261/2004, which ranges from 250 to 600 euros, but only the reimbursement of expenses incurred and documented to reach the destination.
