The Transport Ministry’s strike observatory released a new bulletin on 17 July outlining labour actions that could snarl travel over the next week. Highlights include a 24-hour nationwide stoppage by EasyJet cabin crew and FedEx ground staff on 21 July, a coordinated walk-out at Milan-Malpensa cargo handlers and multiple four-hour protests at Naples and Lamezia airports. Rail passengers face a 24-hour strike affecting maintenance and freight staff at Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) from 21:00 on 23 July to 20:59 on 24 July, alongside separate local actions in Verona and Veneto. Although Italian law mandates minimum-service guarantees, passengers should expect reduced frequencies, cascading delays and possible last-minute cancellations, especially on regional trains and low-cost carriers. Employers moving personnel between client sites or rotating offshore crews through Italian hubs should build in buffer time and verify whether tickets purchased in corporate portals are ‘protected fares’ that allow re-routing without penalty during strikes. The bulletin, updated daily, is the single authoritative source recognised by Italian courts when assessing reimbursement claims. Mobility managers are advised to subscribe to the ministry’s new RSS feed and integrate alerts into travel-risk platforms. Companies with posted workers should brief them on their right to alternative transport or hotel reimbursement under Legislative Decree 152/1997 if a strike exceeds eight hours and no substitute service is offered. For travellers already in Italy, the best mitigation is flexibility: where possible, switch to early-morning flights (which are often operated before strikes start), use high-speed rail operators that sometimes negotiate separate agreements, or consider car-sharing services that usually remain unaffected. Those relying on the Leonardo Express between Rome Termini and Fiumicino Airport should note that bus replacement services become scarce after midnight during industrial action. The clustering of strikes in the peak holiday window illustrates ongoing wage disputes over inflation and roster fatigue. Observers expect further notices in August unless a framework deal is reached in upcoming negotiations involving transport unions and the employers’ federation Assaeroporti.
