A simmering labour dispute at ITA Airways took a fresh twist on 16 January when the carrier asked Italy’s civil-aviation authority (ENAC) to delay a make-or-break meeting with maintenance firm Atitech until 29 January. Unions Filt-CGIL, Fit-CISL, UILTrasporti and UGL Trasporto Aereo issued a joint statement accusing the airline of jeopardising a definitive solution to staffing and outsourcing rows that have already triggered wild-cat actions at Milan Linate and Naples. (visahq.com)
At the heart of the dispute is ITA’s restructuring of maintenance-repair-overhaul (MRO) contracts inherited from Alitalia. Atitech claims critical tasks were shifted to third-party vendors, undermining job security for its workforce. The conflict escalated on 14 January when unions filed notice of a 24-hour ground-handling strike for 16 February, the height of Milan Fashion Week and a peak period for corporate travel. (visahq.com)
![ITA Airways Postpones ENAC Crisis Meeting, Unions Warn of Wider February Strike]()
Although no immediate flight cancellations have been announced, travel managers are already reporting a dip in February bookings on the lucrative Milan-Rome shuttle. Companies that rely on Linate for crew rotation or high-value cargo should map alternative options via high-speed rail or rerouted flights through Bologna and Turin. (visahq.com)
Amid the operational uncertainty, corporate travel planners may also need to verify visa or transit requirements for staff and clients entering or connecting through Italy. VisaHQ’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers up-to-date guidance on Schengen entry rules, expedited processing, and contingency routing support, helping organisations keep itineraries compliant even when flights are shifted to alternative airports.
Experts advise inserting flexible re-routing clauses into February tickets, briefing travellers on EU-261 rights, and monitoring ENAC updates closely. Should the 29 January talks collapse, unions have hinted at escalating to a 48-hour national strike in March, which would coincide with several trade-fair events in northern Italy. (visahq.com)
At the heart of the dispute is ITA’s restructuring of maintenance-repair-overhaul (MRO) contracts inherited from Alitalia. Atitech claims critical tasks were shifted to third-party vendors, undermining job security for its workforce. The conflict escalated on 14 January when unions filed notice of a 24-hour ground-handling strike for 16 February, the height of Milan Fashion Week and a peak period for corporate travel. (visahq.com)
Although no immediate flight cancellations have been announced, travel managers are already reporting a dip in February bookings on the lucrative Milan-Rome shuttle. Companies that rely on Linate for crew rotation or high-value cargo should map alternative options via high-speed rail or rerouted flights through Bologna and Turin. (visahq.com)
Amid the operational uncertainty, corporate travel planners may also need to verify visa or transit requirements for staff and clients entering or connecting through Italy. VisaHQ’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers up-to-date guidance on Schengen entry rules, expedited processing, and contingency routing support, helping organisations keep itineraries compliant even when flights are shifted to alternative airports.
Experts advise inserting flexible re-routing clauses into February tickets, briefing travellers on EU-261 rights, and monitoring ENAC updates closely. Should the 29 January talks collapse, unions have hinted at escalating to a 48-hour national strike in March, which would coincide with several trade-fair events in northern Italy. (visahq.com)
