The strike is expected to cause major travel disruptions for tourists at popular European destinations. A national air strike will take place across Italy on Friday, May 9th between 1pm and 5pm. It is expected to affect flight schedules nationwide, passenger check-in and luggage handling.
The Assohandlers Association, representing baggage handlers and ground staff working with airlines such as EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air, organized industrial activities. Staff at Milan Linate Airport, which serves employees at Swissport Italy and Venice Airport, will also be performing separate strikes at the same time.
Travelers are highly encouraged to monitor communications from airlines and official airport authorities for the latest updates.
Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialist SkyRefund, predicted the impact of travelers.
He states: “Given the strikes scheduled during peak afternoon hours on Friday, this could significantly disrupt travel plans, especially for passengers with connection and time-sensitive itineraries.
“Tracking personnel could result in baggage handling, aircraft turnarounds and delays in boarding procedures.”
Flight delay compensation is a legal qualification for passengers whose flight arrives at their final destination three hours later than planned. Passengers may claim compensation for flight delays of more than three hours if they are negligent by the airline.
Danailov explained: “This compensation exists to ensure that passengers receive financial compensation for inconvenience, but there are certain conditions that must be met before you assert.”
This includes factors such as flight distance, delays in arrival, and airline liability. According to Danailov, if the delay exceeds five hours, passengers are entitled to cancel the flight and receive a full refund.
He added: “Airlines must provide food, drinks and hotel stays during extended delays, even if compensation is not paid under the 'right to care' rules. ”
