Italy’s winter travel season is set for major disruption after transport unions confirmed a 24-hour nationwide aviation strike on Thursday 26 February followed immediately by a 24-hour rail walk-out starting Friday night. The dual action—detailed in union communiqués and airport notices on 23 February—comes despite a government decree limiting strikes during the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Cub Trasporti and allied federations will pull ground-handling crews, check-in staff and flight attendants off the job from 00:01 to 24:00 on Thursday. ITA Airways has already cancelled 55 percent of its programme; easyJet and Vueling have also drawn up contingency timetables. Under Italian law, “guaranteed corridors” (07:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00) must operate, but slot reductions mean delays are still likely for business-critical morning rotations. Treviso, Venice-Marco Polo and Verona airports have published passenger advisories urging travellers to re-confirm flights before departure.
At 21:00 on Friday the focus shifts to rail. Trenitalia, Italo and regional operator Trenord warn that long-distance Frecciarossa and InterCity services could be curtailed, while commuter lines around Milan, Rome and Naples will run skeletal schedules outside the statutory rush-hour protection windows. Freight traffic is also targeted, raising the prospect of supply-chain knock-ons for just-in-time manufacturers in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna.
![Italy braces for 26 February aviation strike and back-to-back rail stoppage]()
For travellers whose plans may suddenly involve alternative routings or extended stays, VisaHQ can help smooth the bureaucratic side of the journey. The service (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can quickly check whether any new connections require transit visas, confirm passport-validity rules and even rush-process documents, ensuring employees stay compliant despite the strike-induced shuffle.
The strikes follow an earlier 16 February date that Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini blocked, calling uninterrupted mobility a “national priority” during the Games. Unions accuse the government of wage-freeze tactics and of failing to hire sufficient air-traffic and signalling personnel to cope with EES-related passport checks coming in April. Talks at the Ministry of Labour collapsed last week when employers offered a 4 percent raise—below inflation—and no additional staffing guarantees.
For mobility managers the practical advice is clear: travellers scheduled to fly on 26 February or take trains on 27-28 February should consider advancing or postponing trips, build in overnight buffers, and verify whether tickets qualify for fee-free rebooking. Companies moving project cargo should explore road alternatives or secure warehouse space for short-term storage. Organisations with assignment start dates in late February may wish to delay onboarding to avoid first-impression complications.
Cub Trasporti and allied federations will pull ground-handling crews, check-in staff and flight attendants off the job from 00:01 to 24:00 on Thursday. ITA Airways has already cancelled 55 percent of its programme; easyJet and Vueling have also drawn up contingency timetables. Under Italian law, “guaranteed corridors” (07:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00) must operate, but slot reductions mean delays are still likely for business-critical morning rotations. Treviso, Venice-Marco Polo and Verona airports have published passenger advisories urging travellers to re-confirm flights before departure.
At 21:00 on Friday the focus shifts to rail. Trenitalia, Italo and regional operator Trenord warn that long-distance Frecciarossa and InterCity services could be curtailed, while commuter lines around Milan, Rome and Naples will run skeletal schedules outside the statutory rush-hour protection windows. Freight traffic is also targeted, raising the prospect of supply-chain knock-ons for just-in-time manufacturers in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna.
For travellers whose plans may suddenly involve alternative routings or extended stays, VisaHQ can help smooth the bureaucratic side of the journey. The service (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can quickly check whether any new connections require transit visas, confirm passport-validity rules and even rush-process documents, ensuring employees stay compliant despite the strike-induced shuffle.
The strikes follow an earlier 16 February date that Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini blocked, calling uninterrupted mobility a “national priority” during the Games. Unions accuse the government of wage-freeze tactics and of failing to hire sufficient air-traffic and signalling personnel to cope with EES-related passport checks coming in April. Talks at the Ministry of Labour collapsed last week when employers offered a 4 percent raise—below inflation—and no additional staffing guarantees.
For mobility managers the practical advice is clear: travellers scheduled to fly on 26 February or take trains on 27-28 February should consider advancing or postponing trips, build in overnight buffers, and verify whether tickets qualify for fee-free rebooking. Companies moving project cargo should explore road alternatives or secure warehouse space for short-term storage. Organisations with assignment start dates in late February may wish to delay onboarding to avoid first-impression complications.
