Industrial unrest at Italy’s flag carrier flared again on 29 December 2025 as cabin and ground crews called a second 24-hour strike in less than three months. The walkout, organised by several unions that say management has refused to tackle workload and pay issues since the airline’s partial takeover by Lufthansa, threatens to disrupt hundreds of year-end flights during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.
Scope of the disruption: According to union notices, the strike applies to flight attendants, dispatchers and maintenance personnel across Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate and other bases. Under Italian strike-mitigation rules, “guaranteed” time bands keep some services running between 06:00-09:00 and 18:00-21:00, but substantial cancellations and re-timings are expected outside those windows. Codeshare partners, including Delta and Air France, warn that missed connections may ripple across their networks.
For travellers who may suddenly need to rearrange itineraries, extend their stay, or transit through alternative hubs, having the right travel documents is critical. VisaHQ can quickly verify visa requirements, handle expedited Schengen visa applications, and even assist with passport renewals via its intuitive portal at https://www.visahq.com/italy/, ensuring that documentation issues do not compound the disruption caused by the strike.
![ITA Airways staff announce second 24-hour strike on 29 December]()
What workers want: Unions cite understaffing on long-haul rotations, “unsustainable” rostering, and the slow roll-out of promised seniority and welfare benefits negotiated after the Lufthansa deal. Management counters that a major fleet renewal and route expansion require flexible scheduling and that talks are still ongoing.
Implications for business travel: Corporations with year-end travel to Italy should activate contingency plans—re-route travellers on high-frequency competitors such as Ryanair or Trenitalia’s high-speed rail, and pre-authorise hotel overnights in case of missed connections. Companies should also remind travellers that EU-261 compensation does not apply when airlines can demonstrate extraordinary circumstances, but labour strikes are often deemed within carrier control, making refund claims viable.
Outlook: The Ministry of Transport has invited the parties to mediation in early January. If talks stall, unions threaten rolling stoppages through the first quarter of 2026—timed to coincide with the Jubilee’s closing ceremonies in Rome—raising the stakes for inbound tourism and corporate mobility alike.
Scope of the disruption: According to union notices, the strike applies to flight attendants, dispatchers and maintenance personnel across Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate and other bases. Under Italian strike-mitigation rules, “guaranteed” time bands keep some services running between 06:00-09:00 and 18:00-21:00, but substantial cancellations and re-timings are expected outside those windows. Codeshare partners, including Delta and Air France, warn that missed connections may ripple across their networks.
For travellers who may suddenly need to rearrange itineraries, extend their stay, or transit through alternative hubs, having the right travel documents is critical. VisaHQ can quickly verify visa requirements, handle expedited Schengen visa applications, and even assist with passport renewals via its intuitive portal at https://www.visahq.com/italy/, ensuring that documentation issues do not compound the disruption caused by the strike.
What workers want: Unions cite understaffing on long-haul rotations, “unsustainable” rostering, and the slow roll-out of promised seniority and welfare benefits negotiated after the Lufthansa deal. Management counters that a major fleet renewal and route expansion require flexible scheduling and that talks are still ongoing.
Implications for business travel: Corporations with year-end travel to Italy should activate contingency plans—re-route travellers on high-frequency competitors such as Ryanair or Trenitalia’s high-speed rail, and pre-authorise hotel overnights in case of missed connections. Companies should also remind travellers that EU-261 compensation does not apply when airlines can demonstrate extraordinary circumstances, but labour strikes are often deemed within carrier control, making refund claims viable.
Outlook: The Ministry of Transport has invited the parties to mediation in early January. If talks stall, unions threaten rolling stoppages through the first quarter of 2026—timed to coincide with the Jubilee’s closing ceremonies in Rome—raising the stakes for inbound tourism and corporate mobility alike.
