Lufthansa and ITA Airways strikes disrupt 410 flights across Italy as Olbia stays operational

Disruption overview

From 13 April 2026, strikes by Lufthansa pilots and ITA Airways staff disrupted at least 410 flights across Italy, hitting major hubs including Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate, Venice-Marco Polo, and Bologna-Marconi airports. The week brought 356 delays and 54 cancellations, with knock-on problems also affecting KLM, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet services as crews, aircraft, and airport slots had to be rearranged. One exception was Costa Smeralda Airport in Olbia, which stayed fully operational through the 19 April weekend. Because the main cause was airline staff industrial action, passengers whose flights were canceled at short notice or delayed by more than 3 hours may be entitled to up to £520 compensation under EC 261.

Disruption details

Passengers traveling through Italy's biggest airports faced a difficult week from 13 April 2026, as strikes by Lufthansa and ITA Airways disrupted at least 410 flights across Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate, Venice-Marco Polo, and Bologna-Marconi.

Industry monitoring logged 356 delays and 54 cancellations during the period. For passengers, that meant missed connections, last-minute changes, and longer waits at already busy terminals. One place stood out: Costa Smeralda Airport in Olbia reported no strike-related irregularities and stayed on time through the 19 April weekend.

The first wave came from a 48-hour Lufthansa pilot strike on 13 and 14 April 2026. That forced the airline and partner services to cut back some Italian flights and left aircraft and crews out of place for later departures.

The pressure increased again on 17 April 2026, when ITA Airways cabin and ground staff held a 24-hour walkout over pay and crew scheduling reforms. Because the disruption started inside the airline, it didn't stay limited to ITA's own schedule.

Across the week, the knock-on effects reached other airlines too:

• KLM, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet had to cancel some flights, swap aircraft, or delay departures while schedules were rearranged.

• Airlines that rely on shared ground services or connecting traffic had less flexibility once crews and airport slots started shifting.

• Even after the official strike windows ended, delays continued as crews approached duty limits and aircraft were still out of position.

That is why disruption carried on through the weekend of 19 April 2026. Longer border-control lines linked to the European Union's new Entry/Exit System left airlines with even less room to recover, especially at the biggest hubs.

The unrest is part of a wider spring push by aviation unions in Italy for inflation-linked pay increases, stronger protection for ground-handling jobs, and clearer crew scheduling rules. For travelers, it has meant a network that is still fragile even after each walkout officially ends.

Olbia was the clear exception. Flights at Costa Smeralda Airport ran as scheduled over the weekend, and local hotels and travel managers quickly promoted Sardinia as a steadier alternative for passengers being rebooked from disrupted mainland routes. Demand for extra charter flights to the island's energy and defense sites also reportedly increased.

Airlines have advised customers to leave extra connection time and to check airline and airport websites the evening before travel. Some corporate travel teams are also steering trips away from Rome and Milan until after Italy's 25 April Liberation Day holiday, when strike calendars may settle down.

If your flight was canceled at short notice or arrived more than 3 hours late because of these airline staff strikes, you could be entitled to up to £520 compensation under EC 261. Weather wasn't cited as a factor, and no government-ordered air traffic restrictions were in place. Your airline should also help with rebooking and care during the disruption, and you can check your compensation with AirHelp in just 2 minutes.

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