Italy is bracing for a month of transport unrest that will test the resilience of business travellers, commuters and Olympic-bound visitors alike. A calendar published on 2 February confirms 26 separate strikes—six of them nationwide—spanning aviation, long-distance and regional rail, metros and even motorway operators.
The first major test comes immediately: the ORSA union’s 23-hour walk-out at Trenord began at 03:00 on 2 February and is expected to create a patchwork of cancellations on Lombardy’s suburban and Malpensa Express services despite the legally-mandated ‘fasce di garanzia’ during the peaks. Trenord has lined up non-stop buses for stranded airport passengers, but experience from previous actions suggests longer door-to-door times and heavier congestion at the A8 and A4 motorway exits for Malpensa.
![February Strike Wave to Disrupt Air, Rail and Metro Services Across Italy]()
Mid-month, attention shifts to the skies. On 16 February Vueling cabin crew will stage a 24-hour strike, while ITA Airways staff have announced both a four-hour stoppage (13:00-17:00) and a separate 24-hour protest with partial guarantee windows. Ground-handling employees affiliated to Assohandler and ALHA cargo will join the action, raising the spectre of widespread delays in baggage delivery and freight processing at Rome-Fiumicino and Milan-Malpensa.
The end of the month threatens the rail backbone. From 21:00 on 27 February to 20:59 on 28 February, the FS Group—covering Trenitalia long-haul, Mercitalia Rail freight and Trenitalia TPER regional services—will halt operations. Business travellers heading to quarter-end meetings should consider rerouting via coach or air or booking hotel nights near meeting venues.
Why it matters: February is already under pressure because Milan-Cortina 2026 opens on 6 February. Corporates with mobility programmes should refresh traveller alerts, pre-authorise taxi alternatives where rail links are critical, and remind employees of EU Regulation 261/2004 compensation thresholds in the event of flight cancellations. (ansa.it)
The first major test comes immediately: the ORSA union’s 23-hour walk-out at Trenord began at 03:00 on 2 February and is expected to create a patchwork of cancellations on Lombardy’s suburban and Malpensa Express services despite the legally-mandated ‘fasce di garanzia’ during the peaks. Trenord has lined up non-stop buses for stranded airport passengers, but experience from previous actions suggests longer door-to-door times and heavier congestion at the A8 and A4 motorway exits for Malpensa.
Mid-month, attention shifts to the skies. On 16 February Vueling cabin crew will stage a 24-hour strike, while ITA Airways staff have announced both a four-hour stoppage (13:00-17:00) and a separate 24-hour protest with partial guarantee windows. Ground-handling employees affiliated to Assohandler and ALHA cargo will join the action, raising the spectre of widespread delays in baggage delivery and freight processing at Rome-Fiumicino and Milan-Malpensa.
The end of the month threatens the rail backbone. From 21:00 on 27 February to 20:59 on 28 February, the FS Group—covering Trenitalia long-haul, Mercitalia Rail freight and Trenitalia TPER regional services—will halt operations. Business travellers heading to quarter-end meetings should consider rerouting via coach or air or booking hotel nights near meeting venues.
Why it matters: February is already under pressure because Milan-Cortina 2026 opens on 6 February. Corporates with mobility programmes should refresh traveller alerts, pre-authorise taxi alternatives where rail links are critical, and remind employees of EU Regulation 261/2004 compensation thresholds in the event of flight cancellations. (ansa.it)
Source: ANSA / Zazoom Social News
