Brits planning to jet off for a summer holiday in Europe could be facing major turmoil as strike action looms at airports across Italy and Spain, hot on the heels of French air traffic control chaos. Last week’s strikes by French air traffic controllers wreaked havoc for holidaymakers, with over 30,000 passengers caught up in delays and cancellations on Thursday (July 3) and Friday (July 4).
Disruption wasn’t confined to France-bound flights — services flying through French airspace also took a hit. With further industrial actions planned, Italian and Spanish airports are bracing for a bumpy ride this week and again later in July. Come July 10, travellers using key Italian hubs such as Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Venice Marco Polo can expect setbacks due to baggage handlers staging walkouts, as reported by TimeOut.
Further upheaval is predicted as staff at Cagliari Elmas and Naples Capodichino airports are set to abandon their posts on that day for several hours—specifically from 1pm to 5pm and 11am to 3pm respectively.
Holidaymakers flying in or out of Palermo might find their plans disrupted on July 11, with a 24-hour strike scheduled by aviation service staff at Falcone Borsellino Airport.
Anticipate substantial hitches on July 26 when a comprehensive airline and airport strike is due for a four-hour spell from 1pm to 5pm, threatening “significant delays for travellers”.
Spanish skies will not be calm either, as airline and airport workers plan to down tools in unison with their Italian counterparts on July 10, 11, and 26.
In Finland, ground staff are preparing for walkouts on numerous dates throughout July – the 16th, 18th, 21st and 23rd. Finnair has warned on their website: “Due to industrial action, many important services at Helsinki Airport, such as customer service, baggage handling, aircraft maintenance, cargo and catering services, will be affected.”
After legal interference, the planned strike by KLM ground staff scheduled for Wednesday (July 9), will not proceed. This follows cautionary statements from the airline and Schiphol airport regarding the potential risks to safety the industrial action may pose.
Travel disruption expert Jessie Chambers, a Senior Travel Advisor at Global Work and Travel, commented: “We’ve already seen major airlines forced to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights. Travellers need to act fast-check flights, speak to airlines, and prepare for delays.”
Passengers should note that if strike action leads to flight delays or cancellations, airlines may be exempt from providing accommodation or compensation due to it being classified as an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ beyond their control.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, there might be a possibility of claiming compensation for cancelled flights notified with less than 14 days’ notice, but they advise: “If It wasn’t the airline’s fault, don’t expect to receive any compensation.”
The CAA clarifies that no compensation is due for disruptions stemming from ‘extraordinary circumstances’, which could include severe weather conditions or strikes by airport or air traffic control staff.
It’s also worth checking whether your travel insurance covers you in the event of strike action, as policies can differ significantly between providers.