Flight chaos, Enav: "75% operational capacity guaranteed with alternative network"

Difficult Friday for those who have to catch a flight. Air traffic capacity in Italy is very limited, with hours of delays and cancellations at all the main airports, from Milan Malpensa to Rome Fiumicino, passing through Bergamo, Naples and Palermo. The reason is attributable to a series of anomalies in the data transmission network supporting the control services. Enav announced that the greatest number of departures possible in the morning was guaranteed, including those of intercontinental flights, using alternative systems.

The National Flight Assistance Agency also assured that it was "working to restore full functionality of the data transmission network". At the moment "the management of flights in total safety is guaranteed by the secondary satellite network". Shortly after 1pm, the operational capacity of managing flights in the national airspace reached 75% after having dropped to 50%, constantly increasing compared to the previous hours. It is excluded that the anomalies are attributable to malicious activity: it would therefore not be a hacker attack or sabotage. Added to the technical problems reported by Enav today are the inconveniences caused by the 24-hour strike called by Easyjet staff. The deputy prime minister and minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini "is following the issue with the utmost attention", writes the MIT in a note.

The anomalies were found "during the night", explained ENAV. "Thanks to the activation of the foreseen contingency systems", "the regular management of air traffic was guaranteed until 6:00 this morning, without any reduction in operational capacity". Then, with the increase in flights, it was necessary to reduce movements. Cancellations and delays are affecting practically all airports in the country. Several airlines, including Ita, on their websites and social channels invite passengers to check the status of their flight before going to the airport.

Deputy Prime Minister Salvini also spoke on what is happening: "The opposition is calling me to Parliament this morning due to the problems with the planes. The problem is not Salvini's, there is a blockade of the Enav data transmission network managed by Tim, so I ask that Tim technicians do their utmost to return to normality". "If this inconvenience continues, I would not want to be forced to ask Tim to answer for the damage caused to so many travelers today," he added.

Passengers involved in airline disruptions are entitled to reimbursements and assistance, as provided for by EC Regulation 261/2004, explains RimborsoAlVolo. Even in exceptional circumstances, if the flight is canceled or delayed for a long time, the airline has the obligation to provide assistance to passengers in the form of meals and drinks, transfers, possible hotel accommodation and so on. In the event that a flight has been canceled due to technical problems, the airline must offer the choice between: a refund of the ticket and, in the case of a connecting flight, a return flight to the departure airport as soon as possible; boarding another flight to your final destination as soon as possible, or boarding another flight at a later date. "However, pecuniary compensation of up to 600 euros per passenger is not foreseen: since it is a case of force majeure, the delay or cancellation of the flight is not attributable to the airline's responsibility" - specifies Kathrin Cois, general director of RimborsoAlVolo.