Aviation unions representing ITA Airways ground staff and easyJet pilots and cabin crew confirmed a 24-hour strike for Thursday 26 February. Although the action is centred on Italian airports, easyJet’s sizeable operation at Geneva – its second-largest European base – will inevitably feel the impact. The carrier has pre-emptively cancelled 34 rotations touching Switzerland, including Geneva-Rome, Basel-Milan Linate and Zurich-Catania services.
Under EU261 rules, passengers whose flights are axed are entitled to re-routing or refunds but not compensation because strikes by third-party staff are considered “extraordinary circumstances”. However, mobility managers still face knock-on costs: last-minute rebooking to alternative hubs (Munich, Lyon or Milan Malpensa) can add 4–6 hours to itineraries and trigger overnight stays.
![EasyJet crews join 24-hour pan-Italian strike on 26 February – Geneva and Basel flights among those at risk]()
For travellers who end up rerouted via non-Schengen airports, visa or transit-permit requirements can change quickly. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers fast eligibility checks and expedited processing so that employees have the right documents if itineraries shift to hubs such as London or Istanbul during the disruption.
Swiss corporates with high cross-border traffic – notably pharma firms in Basel and commodity traders commuting to Milan – should advise travellers to check easyJet’s disruption-alert app and keep digital boarding passes for any insurance claims. The strike again highlights concentration risk: easyJet accounts for over 50 % of movements at Geneva; diversification across rail or legacy carriers may be prudent during Europe’s volatile labour-relations season.
Unions threaten further stoppages in March if talks over roster stability and inflation-linked pay rises fail. HR teams should therefore build contingencies into Q2 assignment schedules now.
Under EU261 rules, passengers whose flights are axed are entitled to re-routing or refunds but not compensation because strikes by third-party staff are considered “extraordinary circumstances”. However, mobility managers still face knock-on costs: last-minute rebooking to alternative hubs (Munich, Lyon or Milan Malpensa) can add 4–6 hours to itineraries and trigger overnight stays.
For travellers who end up rerouted via non-Schengen airports, visa or transit-permit requirements can change quickly. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers fast eligibility checks and expedited processing so that employees have the right documents if itineraries shift to hubs such as London or Istanbul during the disruption.
Swiss corporates with high cross-border traffic – notably pharma firms in Basel and commodity traders commuting to Milan – should advise travellers to check easyJet’s disruption-alert app and keep digital boarding passes for any insurance claims. The strike again highlights concentration risk: easyJet accounts for over 50 % of movements at Geneva; diversification across rail or legacy carriers may be prudent during Europe’s volatile labour-relations season.
Unions threaten further stoppages in March if talks over roster stability and inflation-linked pay rises fail. HR teams should therefore build contingencies into Q2 assignment schedules now.
