## Air Travel Chaos Looms as Strikes Across Italy and Spain Threaten UK Holidaymakers With Major Costs
UK travellers are being warned to brace for significant flight delays and cancellations this week, as strike actions by airport ground staff and airline crews sweep across major airports in Italy and Spain. The turbulence is expected to hit hardest on 10 and 11 July, when industrial disputes threaten to upend thousands of summer travel plans at the height of the holiday season.
Staff walkouts are planned among pilots and cabin crew at budget carrier easyJet—particularly those based in Italy—as well as amongst baggage handlers at key Italian airports, including Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Venice. Additionally, similar industrial action will be taking place at airports throughout Spain. For UK passengers, this could mean not only missed flights, but also a cascade of unforeseen expenses.
Financial analysts at Dot Dot Loans, a consumer finance company, have assessed the potential fallout, estimating personal costs of up to £660 for affected passengers. These projections factor in a range of typical out-of-pocket costs, such as emergency rebooking of flights, accommodation for extra nights, meals, and the loss of prepaid bookings for hotels or activities. Notably, these losses are compounded by the limited financial protection available under EU regulations and basic travel insurance policies.
Contrary to common belief, compensation is not a given in cases of strike disruption. Under existing rules, airlines are not obliged to pay compensation if they can categorise the delays or cancellations as ‘extraordinary circumstances’—a bracket which includes third-party industrial action. This means that, while airlines must offer minimum support (including meals, hotel stays if stranded overnight, and communications), the full financial burden of emergency changes or missed reservations often falls squarely on the traveller.
The current spate of strikes is expected to have a broader impact than usual, with Dot Dot Loans estimating that passengers could be shouldering as much as 40% of the direct costs—higher than in cases where pilots or direct airline staff go on strike, and standard compensation may apply. Given that summer fares are already at their annual peak, the ripple effect of these walkouts could be especially damaging for families and holidaymakers on a budget.
Paul Gillooly, Director at Dot Dot Loans, stressed the importance of financial planning in the face of such unpredictable disruptions. “It’s a common misconception that once you’ve booked your flights, your holiday budget is set,” he explained. “Unfortunately, strikes like these can unravel even the best-laid travel plans, leading to unexpected hotel stays, lost deposits, and expensive last-minute bookings. Holidaymakers need to treat the risk of travel disruption as part of their overall cost, keeping contingency funds and an awareness of their rights.”
EasyJet’s Italy-based pilots and cabin crew are expected to stage a 24-hour strike on Thursday, joined by ground staff at several major Italian airports, including Naples and Cagliari. Additional disruption is possible on Friday at Palermo, where the airport staff union has called a separate 24-hour stoppage. Under Italian aviation law, however, flights scheduled between 6am and 9am and from 6pm to 9pm are considered ‘protected hours’ and should proceed unaffected. Travellers outside these time slots, however, could face lengthy waits and potential rerouting.
The widespread action will also impact airport handling staff at up to 20 Italian airports, with knock-on effects for passenger check-in, baggage drop-offs, and collections. The Flai Transport and Services union is coordinating much of this activity, which includes key airports in Rome, Turin, Verona, and elsewhere across Italy. Passengers set to travel in the coming days are being advised to check airline communications and retain receipts for any expenses, as limited compensation may be claimable in specific circumstances.
Ivaylo Danailov, chief executive of airline compensation specialists SkyRefund, has suggested that there *could* be some exceptions. “Strikes by airline staff are not always classified as ‘extraordinary’, so EU rules may in some instances allow for compensation up to €600, based on the flight distance,” he noted. “However, strikes by airport staff or air traffic controllers are almost always outside the airline’s direct responsibility, so standard compensation usually does not apply. Each situation is different, so passengers should document everything and be prepared to submit claims as appropriate.”
This ongoing wave of industrial disruption serves as a stark reminder of the volatility still present in Europe’s post-pandemic travel sector. With high summer demand and limited alternative flights, even a single delay can have far-reaching consequences for holidaymakers, forcing many to rethink how they plan—and insure—their summer getaways.