Italy ATC Strike Prompts ITA Airways to Cancel 105 Flights

ROME — ITA Airways (AZ) canceled 105 flights scheduled for Wednesday because of a four-hour strike involving Italy's air navigation personnel, according to the carrier's published list. ITA said the cancellations amounted to about 29% of its planned flights for September 30.

An Airways count of ITA's published flight list found 65 domestic and 40 international services. Every listed flight was scheduled to arrive at or depart from Rome Fiumicino (FCO) or Milan Linate (LIN): 74 involved Fiumicino and 36 involved Linate, with five flights between the two airports included in both figures. The list contains 37 scheduled departures from Fiumicino and 18 from Linate.

ENAV said the Uiltrasporti national action and local strikes at Linate, Naples, Bologna and Bari were scheduled from 13:00 to 17:00 local time. The air navigation provider said legally required essential services would be guaranteed.

The canceled flights span domestic routes and services to cities including Madrid, London, Paris and Athens, according to ITA's list. The list does not show how many passengers were affected or whether later services were delayed. ITA's 105-flight figure does not establish the impact on other airlines or how the evening schedule operated after the strike's scheduled end.

ITA advised passengers to check their flight status before going to the airport. Affected customers may change eligible bookings without a penalty through October 7; ITA says refunds apply when a flight was canceled, delayed at least five hours or moved more than 60 minutes earlier.