Italy's July 5 national aviation strike grounds flights

On 5 July 2026 the trade union Cub Trasporti called a 24‑hour national strike of airport, handling and flight‑crew staff across Italy. The action led to massive flight disruptions: more than 80 % of scheduled departures and hundreds of arrivals were cancelled at Milan‑Malpensa, while about 50 % of flights were scrapped at Milan‑Linate. Cub Trasporti reported roughly 140 cancellations at Malpensa and 20 at Linate, a total of around 160 flights, with similar delays and cancellations reported at Rome‑Fiumicino, Catania‑Fontanarossa and other airports.

The strike was organized to protest the expiry of the national collective bargaining agreement for airport workers, demanding at least a 20 % wage increase to match inflation, recognition of seniority, weekend pay, and improved safety measures. Union secretary Antonio Amoroso said companies refuse to negotiate despite court rulings, adding that workers also seek better provisions for personal protective equipment and compensation for past safety shortfalls. EasyJet flight‑crew joined the walk‑out, intensifying the impact.

Flights in protected time windows (07:00‑10:00 and 18:00‑21:00) were officially guaranteed, but the widespread cancellations caused significant inconvenience for thousands of passengers and disrupted logistics chains. The aviation strike is part of a broader series of transport actions scheduled throughout July, including rail and public‑transport strikes that could further affect mobility nationwide.