Trieste Airport sees record summer traffic amid labor concerns

Trieste Airport has reported record-breaking summer traffic, with August becoming its busiest month ever. Between June and August, the Ronchi dei Legionari airport handled 533,802 passengers, a 5.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Total traffic from the start of the year through August 31 reached 1,151,663 passengers, up 6.1% year-on-year. The airport expects to exceed 1.7 million passengers by the end of 2026.

However, this rapid growth has led to labor concerns. The FIT-CISL union has raised alarms regarding air traffic controllers, following an incident where a diverted Ryanair flight from London Stansted arrived outside of standard operating hours. The union noted that the airport typically operates from 06:00 to 24:00, and the request for service occurred after 22:00 for a 01:15 arrival, exceeding legal limits for staff employment.

FIT-CISL reported that 226 hours of overtime were recorded for night extensions between June and September 2025. The union emphasized that overtime should be an exceptional tool rather than a standard operational necessity, calling for structural planning and adequate staffing to match the airport's expansion and ensure safety.