National strike by air traffic controllers from 1pm to 5pm: possible delays and cancellations

Air traffic controllers will fold their arms today for a nationwide strike. Called by the Uiltrasporti union, the abstention will last four hours, from 1pm to 5pm, and could cause inconvenience for travellers, with possible flight cancellations and delays. The protest involves the staff of Enav, the company that manages air traffic in Italy, and Techno Sky, which deals with the management and maintenance of air traffic control systems. With the proclamation of the strike, Ita Airways announced the cancellation of 29% of scheduled connections for today. But, as specified by ENAC, some flights classified as "essential" will still be guaranteed.

The air traffic controllers' strike

For flight controllers at the airports of Bologna, Bari, Rome Ciampino, Linate and Naples the strike begins at 1pm and ends at 5pm. While for Rome Fiumicino airport the abstention concerns the last 4 hours of the working day. As Uiltrasporti specifies in an official note, the mobilization was called following the "lack of responses to numerous open disputes and the lack of progress in the confrontation" with Enav. The reasons also include "the failure to renew the supplementary company contract, the loss of workers' purchasing power, staff shortages, criticism in the organization of shifts and delays in infrastructure investments", in addition to "specific problems in various operational offices and at the Rome Headquarters".