Travellers in Italy should prepare for widespread disruption this November as multiple transport strikes hit the country’s air, rail and local networks. The strikes, confirmed by the Italian transport ministry, include walkouts by local transport staff, air traffic controllers, and rail workers, culminating in a nationwide general strike at the end of the month.
7 November: Local transport strikes
Public transport users in Milan, Latina and Palermo face a 24-hour strike on Friday 7 November. In Messina, services will be affected by a four-hour walkout. Timetables and service updates will be confirmed closer to the date, and disruption is expected to vary by city.
14 November: Air and Rome transport strikes
Air travel will be heavily impacted on Friday 14 November. Air traffic controllers plan a four-hour strike from 13.00 to 17.00, likely causing delays and cancellations at airports across Italy.
Staff from Volotea will strike for 24 hours the same day, while easyJet employees will walk out between 13.00 and 17.00.
Flights scheduled between 07.00-10.00 and 18.00-21.00 are guaranteed under Italian law, even during strikes.
Rome’s local public transport network will also be hit by a 24-hour strike on 14 November, affecting buses and the metro system. Trams remain suspended until 8 December due to maintenance. The usual strike timetable in Rome runs from 08.30 to 17.00 and again from 20.00 until the end of service.
27–28 November: Rail strike
A nationwide rail strike will begin at 21.00 on Thursday 27 November and continue until 21.00 the following day. Both regional and long-distance services will be affected.
“Essential” regional trains are guaranteed to operate between 06.00 and 09.00 on weekdays. Trenitalia’s website lists all guaranteed trains and offers real-time updates by region. Travellers are advised to check their train status before heading to the station.
28 November: General and airport staff strikes
The month’s largest disruption is expected on Friday 28 November, when trade unions USB and CUB have called a nationwide general strike. The action, which covers both public and private sectors, is a protest against the government’s 2026 budget bill. The unions are demanding wage increases and a lower retirement age, calling on workers to “block everything.”
The strike will affect schools, hospitals, factories, and transport services, including air, rail and local public networks.
On the same day, airport ground staff will hold a 24-hour strike at several airports across Italy. Milan Malpensa is expected to be the worst affected. As with other aviation strikes, flights between 07.00-10.00 and 18.00-21.00 will operate as normal.
Travellers advised to check updates
Passengers are urged to monitor official updates from Italy’s transport ministry and relevant operators, including Trenitalia and ENAC, the national civil aviation authority. Schedules and guaranteed service details will be published closer to each strike date.
Strike details can be found on the Ministry of Transport’s website.
