Ita Airways and ita airways: Rescheduled aviation strikes set for Feb. 26 and March 7
Aviation workers with multiple unions will strike for 24 hours starting at midnight ET on February 26 and again on March 7, creating fresh travel uncertainty for visitors and residents. The actions were rescheduled from a mid-February date to avoid conflicting with the Winter Olympics, and the moves matter now because the later dates intersect with other transport walkouts and new border-control rules that will change passenger processing times.
Strike dates, scope, and travel impacts
The aviation strikes are slated for 24 hours beginning at midnight ET on February 26 and for another 24-hour period on March 7. The February action was postponed from an earlier mid-February date after government intervention intended to protect travel during the Winter Olympics. It is unclear if the March 7 action has also been postponed; that date has been flagged as a possible additional disruption. Workers have cited dissatisfaction over pay and working conditions, making the situation unpredictable.
Ita Airways among carriers affected
Employees across several airlines, ground staff and pilots are expected to participate. Named carriers in recent coverage include national and low-cost operators, and airports flagged for likely disruption include Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Venice Marco Polo, and Verona Valerio Catullo. A separate air-traffic control action involving the national provider ENAV is scheduled for March 7 and could compound pressure on the system during that period.
What ita airways passengers should do
Travelers with bookings on affected dates are advised to reaffirm flight plans and prepare alternate routes. Rail workers also plan strikes from the evening of February 27 until the evening of February 28, which will affect regional, high-speed Frecce, and Intercity services; some services will be guaranteed during peak hours. Local public transport disruptions have been scheduled in several cities, which can further complicate onward travel from airports to urban centers.
Border-control changes and travel timing
Separately, entry procedures will change later in the year: the European Entry/Exit System will be fully operational from April 2026 and will replace manual passport stamping with biometric data collection, including fingerprints and facial recognition. These new procedures are expected to lead to longer processing times at major airports named above. Another measure, ETIAS pre-travel authorization, is planned later in 2026 and will require many visa-exempt travelers to secure authorization before travel; that system will not affect arrivals this year but adds a future layer of preparation.
Key takeaways
- Strikes: 24-hour aviation walkouts start at midnight ET on Feb. 26 and again on March 7; the Feb. date was postponed from mid-February to avoid the Winter Olympics.
- Scope: Airlines, ground staff, pilots, and air-traffic control actions are involved; major Italian airports are likely to see disruption.
- Travelers: Reconfirm plans, expect possible delays or cancellations, and watch processing times increase next April when biometric controls begin.
Forward look: If the strikes proceed as scheduled, passengers can expect higher risks of cancellations and delays across air and rail networks on the specified dates. Travelers should monitor official announcements and reconfirm reservations well in advance of travel, allow extra time at airports, and consider alternative routings where possible. Uncertainty remains around the March 7 timing, and workers' stated grievances mean additional actions cannot be ruled out.
