Eight-Hour National Airport Strike Grounds Hundreds of Flights Across Italy
Etna Ash Cloud Shuts Catania Airport Sector, Arrivals Suspended Until 19:00
Sicily launches up to 60 % IRPEF rebate to attract new residents, expatriates and digital nomads
Latest News
Catania Terminal A to Remain Closed Five More Days Amid Safety Probe
Investigators have extended the shutdown of Catania’s main Terminal A until at least 24 July, reducing airport capacity by about one-third and compounding delays already caused by Etna’s ash. Companies should plan for longer processing times or reroute travellers through alternative Sicilian or Maltese gateways.
Wildfires Disrupt Rail Corridors; Viareggio–Prato and Rome–Formia Lines Reopen
Trackside fires closed two important rail links on 18-19 July before services gradually resumed, causing significant delays for regional commuters and freight. The events spotlight climate-driven disruption risks for Italy’s rail infrastructure during the summer heatwave.
Italy issues ‘red alert’ heat-wave warning for 16 cities, advising travellers to limit movement
A level-3 ‘red alert’ heat-wave warning now applies to 16 Italian cities, with temperatures above 47 °C. Transport operators are slowing rail services and adjusting airport ramp work, while companies are activating duty-of-care measures for travelling staff. Travellers should expect minor delays and follow official health advice.
Lampedusa Faces New 24-Hour Wave of Migrant Arrivals; Hotspot Exceeds Capacity Again
More than 2,100 people landed on Lampedusa in 20 boats within 24 hours, pushing the island’s reception centre to triple its capacity and forcing emergency transfers to mainland Sicily. The new spike underscores the chronic pressure on Italy’s border-management system and foreshadows possible regulatory tightening that could also affect legitimate mobility and corporate immigration programmes.
Air-traffic-controller strikes cancel scores of flights at Palermo and Catania on 18 July
National ATC strikes on 18 July led to the cancellation of more than 80 flights in Palermo and Catania, disrupting business itineraries across Sicily. Carriers have issued rebooking waivers, and firms are revising contingency plans as labour unrest over staffing and EES workloads continues.
Rome Fiumicino unveils live EES immigration-queue dashboard for international arrivals
Fiumicino Airport has gone live with a 15-minute refresh dashboard that predicts EES immigration and security waits, helping travellers and employers better plan arrivals. The open data can be integrated into corporate booking tools and is expected to cut missed-connection risk ahead of EES go-live.
Eight-kilometre queue on A22 Brennero after accident snarls Italy–Austria freight corridor
A crash on the A22 Brennero caused an 8 km queue and up to 90-minute delays on the key Italy–Austria route on 18 July, disrupting freight schedules and holiday traffic. Logistics firms diverted loads, and travellers are advised to monitor Autobrennero bulletins.
Bologna Chamber Updates Guidance on Residence-Permit Conversion for Non-EU Entrepreneurs
On 18 July the Bologna Chamber of Commerce published consolidated instructions on which residence-permit types permit self-employment and how non-EU nationals can convert other permits. The online update streamlines documentation and introduces an appointment portal, reducing lead-times for entrepreneurial work permits in Emilia-Romagna.