Nationwide 24 A one-hour strike that will keep air traffic controllers and ground handlers out of work has already forced ITA Airways to cancel at least 200 flights.
Many other airlines followed suit. Thus, the British low-cost airline EasyJet warned its passengers: “Like most airlines flying to and from Italy, we may experience schedule disruptions on this day. We advise customers traveling to, from or within Italy on Friday, October 21st to allow extra time to travel to and from the airport and check the status of their flights. If any flights are cancelled, we will contact customers via email and SMS using the details provided during booking and check-in. If your flight is canceled, we advise you not to go to the airport, but to reschedule it free of charge or get a refund.
We will do our best to minimize any disruption that may result from the strike.
The reason for the protest was the disagreement of the employees of the national air traffic control company Ente Nazionale per l'Assistenza al Volo with the salary and working conditions. Controllers working “in the towers”, i.e. in Control Towers, play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of Italian airports.
Experts advise: if you plan to fly to or from Italy in the coming days, be sure to contact your airline as soon as possible to make sure your flight will take place.
Recall that in 2012 the European Court of Justice ruled that airlines must compensate passengers for costs if they are denied transportation even after a strike. That is, if the strike falls on a Monday and a flight on Tuesday is delayed or canceled as a result of a domino effect, passengers are still entitled to compensation, a refund or a replacement flight.
Under current European Union rules, the amount compensation ranges from 250 to 600 euros, depending on the duration of the delay and the distance of the trip.
In the event of a long delay, the airline must also provide:
– food and drink;
– access to telephone and e-mail;
– hotel accommodation if the plane is delayed for the night, as well as transfers between the airport and the hotel.