The main cause of confusion are the announced protests of ground staff and aircraft crews. Strikes include the largest airports in the region and can affect both local and international connections.
According to Euronews, on Saturday in Italy, ground service employees will suspend their work for four hours – from 13 to 17. The protest was organized by the trade unions of Cub Trasporti and Flai Trasporti E Servizi. According to industry representatives, even such a short break is enough to seriously disturb the functioning of airports.
The strike can affect the activities of the largest carriers flying to Italy, including: Ryanair, Easyjet, Volotea and Wizz Air. The greatest concerns relate to the airports in Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Florence and Venice. The Italian Civil Aviation Office (ENAC) publishes a list of flights to be made despite the protest, and connections to the islands such as Sardinia, Sicily and Lampedus are often excluded from strikes.
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“According to Italian law, during the strike action minimal levels of services are required, which ensures that some flights take place normally. Flights planned between 7.00 and 10.00 and between 18.00 and 21.00 are usually subject to these regulations and strikes will probably not affect them” – says Euronews.
In some cases, travelers may be entitled to compensation.
– According to EU Regulation No. 261/2004, when the disturbance of the passenger's journey is caused by their own airline employees, such as the planned Volotea personnel strike, passengers can qualify for compensation. This is because such cases are considered the responsibility of the airline – said Darina Kovacheva, head of the legal department at Skyrefund for Euronews.
-Volotea passengers, whose flights have been delayed or canceled in advance due to protest, may be entitled to compensation in the amount of 250 to 520 pounds (286.90-453.20 euros), depending on the flight distance-she added.
Volotea does not make calls to Poland.
Portugal: Weekend protests at the main airports
Portugal did not bypass the strikes. There, trade unions representing ground service employees announced protests that began at midnight on Friday and will last throughout the weekend. The biggest difficulties are expected at: Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal airports.
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Airport administrations warn that protests can disturb ground operations, including passenger check -in, luggage service and servicing aircraft. According to information provided by Euronews, travelers using Portuguese airports should take into account delays and possible flights.
Spain: crew strike of cheap airlines
In Spain, air traffic disruption is also expected. According to Euronews, the crew and pilots of cheap Spanish Airlines Volotea will start a strike from 13am to 5pm. The protest may have a wide impact on European airlines, because Volotea serves over a hundred cities on the continent.
On -board staff and pilots raise reservations regarding the planning of duty, too long working hours and the lack of adequate flights. Trade unions accuse the carrier of a violation of European regulations regarding the minimum wage and crew safety standards.
