Uiltrasporti reported “strong” adherence to the 24-hour strike by easyJet flight and cabin crew operating in Italy. Internal estimates suggest that more than 70 percent of rosters called in sick or refused duty, forcing the carrier to ground dozens of domestic and intra-European rotations. The stoppage coincides with a broader ground-handling and ATC protest but is driven by a separate dispute over wages and rest rules. easyJet says it offered free rebooking or refunds and has wet-leased spare aircraft where possible, yet turnaround bottlenecks at Milan-Malpensa and Naples have limited recovery capacity.
![easyJet cabin-crew walk-out sees high participation, threatens summer schedules]()
For travellers who still need to fly, ensuring that travel documentation is in order is equally crucial. VisaHQ can expedite Italian visas or other required permits through its digital portal, helping passengers pivot quickly to alternate carriers or routings during strike disruptions—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The airline’s Italian market share has climbed to 12 percent since ITA Airways cut regional frequencies, making reliable staffing critical for the summer peak. Labour lawyers note that easyJet’s Italian crews fall under UK employment contracts supplemented by Italian addenda, creating grey areas in overtime pay. Negotiations stalled in May when the company offered a 5 percent rise—well below inflation. Uiltrasporti is now threatening rolling 48-hour strikes every weekend until 15 August unless a new contract is signed. For corporate mobility teams the repercussions are two-fold: they may need to shift travellers to legacy carriers at higher fares, and they face potential EU 261 liabilities if clients are stranded. Travellers holding easyJet segments through Italy in the next six weeks should monitor union announcements and consider flexible or fully refundable tickets. The dispute also underscores the wider personnel crunch in European aviation; consultancy ICF forecasts that Italian carriers will enter 2027 with a 3,000-person shortfall in licensed cabin crew unless pay bands rise sharply.
For travellers who still need to fly, ensuring that travel documentation is in order is equally crucial. VisaHQ can expedite Italian visas or other required permits through its digital portal, helping passengers pivot quickly to alternate carriers or routings during strike disruptions—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The airline’s Italian market share has climbed to 12 percent since ITA Airways cut regional frequencies, making reliable staffing critical for the summer peak. Labour lawyers note that easyJet’s Italian crews fall under UK employment contracts supplemented by Italian addenda, creating grey areas in overtime pay. Negotiations stalled in May when the company offered a 5 percent rise—well below inflation. Uiltrasporti is now threatening rolling 48-hour strikes every weekend until 15 August unless a new contract is signed. For corporate mobility teams the repercussions are two-fold: they may need to shift travellers to legacy carriers at higher fares, and they face potential EU 261 liabilities if clients are stranded. Travellers holding easyJet segments through Italy in the next six weeks should monitor union announcements and consider flexible or fully refundable tickets. The dispute also underscores the wider personnel crunch in European aviation; consultancy ICF forecasts that Italian carriers will enter 2027 with a 3,000-person shortfall in licensed cabin crew unless pay bands rise sharply.
