Strike action planned for the first weekend of summer holidays across Italian airports – it's set to cause chaos
AIR-NO Strike action planned for the first weekend of summer holidays across Italian airports – it's set to cause chaos
STRIKES across Italian airports are set to cause trouble for British holidaymakers travelling this weekend.
Italian officials have warned that aviation industry staff are planning to strike across Italy on the first Saturday of the summer holidays leading to potential flight delays and cancellations.
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There's a planned strike across Italian airports this weekend
Credit: Alamy
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Airport workers are set to strike across major terminals
Credit: Alamy
Lots of Brits will be ditching the UK for a break in sunny Italy, but could be met with chaos due to strike action.
The Italian Transport Ministry has announced that airport staff including security workers and baggage handlers are set to walk out for a four-hour shutdown between 1PM and 5PM on Saturday 26 July.
This will impact passengers heading to major terminals at airports including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Florence and Venice.
The Assohandlers group, which represents baggage handlers at dozens of airports across Italy, is set to strike.
The company has Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI among its clients, meaning flights with those carriers could be impacted.
While the planned strike is set to last just four hours, it will also have a ripple effect on later services too.
To add to the disruption, staff at Spanish budget airline, Volotea, are set to walk out during the day as well.
Strike action in Italy earlier this month ended with 73 flights scheduled to depart from and arrive in the country being cancelled in a single day.
The scrapped flights included services from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Naples and Venice Marco Polo - affecting passengers travelling via Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester.
Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist SkyRefund says: 'As we saw earlier this month, the ongoing discontent among aviation workers in Italy is causing mayhem for holidaymakers visiting the country.
Popular Italian holiday hotspot bans walking barefoot, booze & picnics with rules-breaking tourists facing hefty fines
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Workers for Spanish budget airline Volotea are also planning to strike
Credit: Alamy
She continued: "We highly recommend that passengers travelling to Italy this weekend monitor the status of their flight before travelling to the airport, as strikes like these can cause last minute cancellations."
For anyone flying with Volotea, Darina has said that certain passengers could be eligible for compensation if their flight is delayed or cancelled.
She added: "Under EU Regulation 261/2004, when disruption to a passenger's journey is caused by an airline's own employees, such as the planned Volotea staff strike, passengers may be eligible for compensation."
Several Italian airports have issued early warning on their websites and social media channels encouraging passengers to consider rescheduling flights.
There's already travel chaos for Brits who have been driving to the port of Dover and have been stuck in long queues to cross the Channel.
The RAC estimates that up to 13.9 million journeys could be made between July 21 and July 24.
Here's more on flight delays and what to do if you're affected.
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
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