Travellers planning business trips to Italy this month face an unusually dense calendar of industrial action that touches every major mode of transport. La Repubblica’s updated list shows 11 separate strike dates between 8 and 29 January covering local buses in Abruzzo, regional rail in Molise, national rail operators FS and Italo, baggage-handling firms at Milan’s airports and full-day walk-outs at EasyJet, Vueling and multiple ground-service providers.
The first flash-point arrives on 8 January when local-transport unions in Abruzzo, Bolzano and Naples stage staggered stoppages, while airport workers at Venice and Treviso down tools mid-day. One day later, EasyJet crews nationwide and handling staff at Milan Linate, Malpensa and Varese airports will strike for 24 hours, causing ripple effects on connecting flights.
Rail disruption peaks 9-10 January with a 24-hour walk-out by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana personnel, immediately followed by separate actions by train drivers and conductors on 20 January and a 23-hour protest on 29 January in Ancona. Milan’s ATM metro, tram and bus network faces a full-day shut-down on 15 January, coinciding with five-hour stoppages in Molise.
![January Strikes Threaten Planes, Trains and Local Transit Across Italy]()
For corporate travellers who still need to keep their Italy itineraries on track, VisaHQ can streamline the visa side of the equation. Its online platform — https://www.visahq.com/italy/ — handles business-visa applications, invitation letters, and courier delivery, letting mobility teams focus on rebooking flights instead of chasing consulate appointments.
Why it matters: January is quarter-close for many companies; the concentration of strikes amplifies the risk of missed meetings and supply-chain delays. Mobility managers should trigger contingency plans—reroute via Bologna or Zurich airports, pre-book taxi transfers, and brief staff on Italy’s minimum-service guarantees (7-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. for trains). Airlines must re-issue EU261 compensation guidance as cancellations mount.
Outlook: The protest wave is fuelled by union opposition to cost-of-living clauses in the 2026 Budget. Unless government mediators intervene, further actions could spill into February, overlapping with the first “click-day” for Decreto Flussi work-permit submissions on 12 January.
The first flash-point arrives on 8 January when local-transport unions in Abruzzo, Bolzano and Naples stage staggered stoppages, while airport workers at Venice and Treviso down tools mid-day. One day later, EasyJet crews nationwide and handling staff at Milan Linate, Malpensa and Varese airports will strike for 24 hours, causing ripple effects on connecting flights.
Rail disruption peaks 9-10 January with a 24-hour walk-out by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana personnel, immediately followed by separate actions by train drivers and conductors on 20 January and a 23-hour protest on 29 January in Ancona. Milan’s ATM metro, tram and bus network faces a full-day shut-down on 15 January, coinciding with five-hour stoppages in Molise.
For corporate travellers who still need to keep their Italy itineraries on track, VisaHQ can streamline the visa side of the equation. Its online platform — https://www.visahq.com/italy/ — handles business-visa applications, invitation letters, and courier delivery, letting mobility teams focus on rebooking flights instead of chasing consulate appointments.
Why it matters: January is quarter-close for many companies; the concentration of strikes amplifies the risk of missed meetings and supply-chain delays. Mobility managers should trigger contingency plans—reroute via Bologna or Zurich airports, pre-book taxi transfers, and brief staff on Italy’s minimum-service guarantees (7-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. for trains). Airlines must re-issue EU261 compensation guidance as cancellations mount.
Outlook: The protest wave is fuelled by union opposition to cost-of-living clauses in the 2026 Budget. Unless government mediators intervene, further actions could spill into February, overlapping with the first “click-day” for Decreto Flussi work-permit submissions on 12 January.
