Several rank-and-file unions—USB, Si Cobas, CUB Trasporti, SGB and USI-CIT—have confirmed a 24-hour general strike that will hit every major transport mode in Italy from 21:00 on Thursday 28 May until 21:00 on Friday 29 May. Rail: Personnel of Trenitalia, Trenord, Italo and regional operators will down tools. The Ministry of Transport has published lists of "treni garantiti" that must run during two protected commuter windows (06:00–09:00 and 18:00–21:00), but long-distance Intercity and Frecciarossa services outside those periods face large-scale cancellations. Corporate travel managers moving staff between Milan, Rome and Naples on Friday should rebook inside the guarantee bands or consider air alternatives.
![Nation-wide 28–29 May transport strike threatens Italy’s trains, flights and ferries]()
As travellers juggle rebookings and potential rerouting, it’s also wise to double-check travel documentation. VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) lets passengers instantly confirm visa requirements, submit electronic applications and arrange courier pickup for urgent passport processing—particularly helpful if strike-driven itinerary changes push you through non-Schengen hubs or require last-minute business visas. The service’s concierge team can expedite filings even when consular offices shorten hours during industrial action.
Airports: Ground-handling staff and some flight crews are called to strike for the full 24 hours. Airlines have started proactive cancellations; ITA Airways and easyJet will re-accommodate passengers or refund tickets without penalty. ENAV air-traffic controllers are not formally involved, but staffing levels at security and ramp operations are expected to slow aircraft turnarounds. Public transport and roads: Urban buses, trams and metro systems will observe local strike windows, typically outside the morning and evening peaks. Autostrade per l’Italia warns of potential lane closures at toll booths as personnel join the protest from 22:00 on 28 May. Ferry operators serving Sardinia and Sicily will suspend departures for the smaller islands for most of Friday. Why it matters: The action is part of a broader dispute over wage indexation and safety on privatised networks. For multinationals the timing—on a Friday before a holiday weekend—risks cascading delays into Monday. Mobility teams should activate contingency plans, alert travellers to their EU Regulation 261 rights, and monitor airline waiver policies that often expire once the strike ends.
As travellers juggle rebookings and potential rerouting, it’s also wise to double-check travel documentation. VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) lets passengers instantly confirm visa requirements, submit electronic applications and arrange courier pickup for urgent passport processing—particularly helpful if strike-driven itinerary changes push you through non-Schengen hubs or require last-minute business visas. The service’s concierge team can expedite filings even when consular offices shorten hours during industrial action.
Airports: Ground-handling staff and some flight crews are called to strike for the full 24 hours. Airlines have started proactive cancellations; ITA Airways and easyJet will re-accommodate passengers or refund tickets without penalty. ENAV air-traffic controllers are not formally involved, but staffing levels at security and ramp operations are expected to slow aircraft turnarounds. Public transport and roads: Urban buses, trams and metro systems will observe local strike windows, typically outside the morning and evening peaks. Autostrade per l’Italia warns of potential lane closures at toll booths as personnel join the protest from 22:00 on 28 May. Ferry operators serving Sardinia and Sicily will suspend departures for the smaller islands for most of Friday. Why it matters: The action is part of a broader dispute over wage indexation and safety on privatised networks. For multinationals the timing—on a Friday before a holiday weekend—risks cascading delays into Monday. Mobility teams should activate contingency plans, alert travellers to their EU Regulation 261 rights, and monitor airline waiver policies that often expire once the strike ends.
