Strikes at European airports this weekend could disrupt holiday plans for thousands of passengers
Thousands of travelers could see their summer holiday plans in chaos this weekend due to expected strikes.
Airport workers in Italy will organize a four -hour national strike on July 26, potentially leading to tens of theft and cancellation delays.
Requests for improving security, better working conditions and balance between professional and private life and national contract renewals stimulate this industrial action.
A striking action also takes place at the airports of Spain and Portugal, adding to the potential travel chaos.
Where will flights be affected by strikes?
The main airlines such as Easyjet, RyanairBritish Airways, Wizz Air, Tui, Volotea and Ita Airways could be affected, because luggage managers, ground staff and airport workers should go out at each large Italian airport from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
This includes airports Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Florence, Naples and Venice. At Milan Lination Airport, Swissport Gate services and registration staff will also have struck.
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Earlier this month, Italian strikes caused the cancellation of 73 incoming and outgoing flights in one day. This included flights from Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo and Naples.
Spanish flights are also likely to be affected this weekend, because the crew and pilots of the Spanish airline and the pilots are also endangering on Saturday. This could have a widespread impact on the main European air travel routes. The airline is currently flying to more than 100 European cities.
In Portugal, the workers of the former GroundForce, now Menzies Aviation, will be struck during the last weekend in July and the last four weekends in August. The strike could particularly affect Lisbon airport.
The SPDH / Menzies workers’ strike, formerly GroundForce, begins on July 26 at midnight and ends on July 29 at midnight. The demonstration will be repeated on weekends in August, from 8 to 11, 15 to 18, 22 to 25 and 29 August to September 1.
The main airports, including Lisbon, will be particularly seriously affected.
What can travelers do?
Although these upcoming strikes will undoubtedly cause drawbacks, there are several steps that travelers can take to stay prepared and better informed.
This includes verification of the website of the Italian Ministry of Transport for official information on the strike as well as the request for specific airlines and airports For the latest updates. Travelers are also advised to confirm the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.
If travel plans cannot be changed around striking dates, avoid rush hour while heading for the airport and arriving with a lot of time can also help.
Below Italian Law, minimum service levels are required during strike action, which guarantees that certain flights work as usual. The flights scheduled between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. are generally under these regulations and are probably not affected.
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The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) also publishes a list of guaranteed flights, that travelers can verify alternative arrangements. Flights to certain islands, as for and from Sardinia, Sicily And Lampedusa, are also often excluded from the strikes.
Travelers may be entitled to compensation in certain cases.
“Under the EU 261/2004 EU regulation, when the disruption of a passenger’s trip is caused by employees of an airline, such as the planned strike of voltotea staff, passengers can be eligible for compensation. It is because cases like these are considered in the responsibility of the airline,” said Darina Kovacheva, head of Legal to Skyrefund,
She added: “Volotea passengers whose flights are either delayed or canceled in the short term due to this industrial action may be entitled to compensation from £ 250 to 520 (€ 286.9 to € 453.2), depending on the distance from their flight.”
