From 20 to 22 November 2026, several separate strikes in Italy could disrupt rail services, urban public transport and flights. A nationwide CGIL walkout is scheduled for Friday, while a distinct railway stoppage runs from 21:00 on 20 November until 20:00 on 21 November. Air traffic control and airport service workers have announced further action for 21 and 22 November. Travellers using Milan Malpensa, Linate, Bergamo, Venice and Treviso may face changes to their connections and could need alternative journeys by road.
20 November – Nationwide action called by CGIL
The CGIL trade union confederation has called a nationwide strike across public and private sectors for Friday 20 November. Italy's Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport records the action as lasting an entire working day. Participation can differ substantially among organisations, so the announcement does not mean every bus, train or airport operation will stop. Disruption may affect specific transport businesses, logistics providers and supporting services. The actual impact will depend on local arrangements, the employees taking part and the protected minimum services applicable to each operator.
It is essential to distinguish this general action from the separate railway strike that begins later. Trenord's official notice explicitly states that the CGIL strike running from the evening of 19 November until 20:59 on 20 November does not involve its railway operations. Normal train services are therefore expected until 21:00 on Friday unless unrelated problems arise. The restrictions that follow are linked to separately announced industrial action by railway unions. This distinction matters particularly for travellers relying on trains to reach Milan's airports.
20–21 November – National railway strike
A separate railway walkout is scheduled from 21:00 on Friday 20 November to 20:00 on Saturday 21 November. Trenitalia and Trenord have issued notices, and Trenitalia also names the Ferrovie dello Stato group and Trenitalia Tper among the affected operators. Regional, suburban and long-distance services may be delayed, altered or cancelled, including routes passengers use to connect with flights. The announcement does not imply a complete shutdown of the rail network, because operators must continue running their published guaranteed services.
Trenord says trains scheduled to depart before 21:00 on Friday and reach their final destination by 22:00 will operate. On Saturday, a published list of guaranteed trains applies during the 06:00–09:00 and 18:00–21:00 protected periods. These windows do not guarantee that every train normally scheduled in those hours will run; the precise service must appear on the operator's list. Further delays can arise after the strike ends as rolling stock, staff and operating schedules return to their normal positions across the network.
21 November – Local transport in Turin and other regions
The ministry's calendar also lists action affecting selected local transport operators on Saturday 21 November. They include GTT in Turin, EAV in Campania, Trentino Trasporti and other regional companies. Depending on participation, passengers may experience changes to bus, tram and some suburban services. Each operator publishes its own minimum-service arrangements, which can differ by city and by type of line. A journey involving several connections may therefore encounter a local disruption even if the main intercity train or flight operates according to schedule.
21 November – Four-hour ENAV air traffic control strike
A nationwide strike by ENAV air traffic control personnel is scheduled for Saturday 21 November, between 13:00 and 17:00. The FILT-CGIL and UGL-TA unions called the action, and its hours appear in the official ministry calendar. Possible consequences include departure delays, restrictions on air traffic and cancellation of individual flights at airports across Italy. Nevertheless, a national notice does not mean the entire country's airspace closes. Essential air navigation services and flights protected under Italian civil aviation rules must continue to receive the required assistance.
22 November – All-day strike at Milan Malpensa
On Sunday 22 November, ENAV personnel at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) are scheduled to strike for 24 hours, from 00:01 to 24:00. The action is listed under RSA FAST-CONFSAL-AV, with a specific guarantee for flights to and from Bari in the official record. Malpensa is a major international airport with two passenger terminals, so disruption to one flight may affect onward connections. An air traffic control strike does not, by itself, mean the terminals will close or that all flights will be automatically diverted to other airports.
22 November – Security company strike at Venice Airport
At Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), Sicuritalia IVRI staff have announced a strike on 22 November, from 00:00 to 23:59, called by the FISASCAT-CISL union. This affects employees of a particular airport security services company, not the entire airport workforce. Any effect on passenger processing depends on staffing arrangements and the minimum operations maintained by the airport. Widespread flight cancellations cannot be treated as confirmed solely because the strike was announced; airlines and airport managers make operational decisions according to actual circumstances.
Which flights are protected during Italian aviation strikes
Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC sets protected operating periods between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00. Flights covered by the relevant rules must operate during those windows, while certain emergency, humanitarian, state and other essential movements receive additional protection. This does not mean all flights outside the windows are cancelled, nor does it guarantee the absence of delays during protected hours. ENAC and individual airlines publish lists and operational updates based on the flight schedule and the particular industrial action involved.
Malpensa Express rail connections on 20–21 November
The railway strike is especially relevant to Malpensa passengers because Malpensa Express connects the airport terminals with Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna. Trenord has warned of possible disruption to airport, suburban and regional trains. When certain airport services are cancelled, it plans direct replacement buses without intermediate stops between Milano Cadorna and Malpensa Aeroporto, as well as between Stabio and Malpensa. These buses are not a complete replacement for the whole railway timetable; they apply to the specified links under the conditions set out by the operator.
Private transfers between Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo
The Milan area is served by three separate airports: Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN) and Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY). They are located in different parts of Lombardy, so a change of departure airport can require an additional ground journey. If an airline offers a flight from another terminal or airport, travellers should not assume the transfer is automatically included in their original ticket. A private car may connect the airports directly, but availability, collection arrangements and pricing depend on the transport provider.
The ItalianAirports.eu transfer directory contains routes between Italian airports, towns and cities. During industrial action, connections such as Malpensa–Linate, Malpensa–Bergamo and the routes between Milan's airports and its main railway stations become particularly relevant. However, an informational route page does not guarantee that a vehicle is available at a specific time. The website does not automatically confirm that a journey can be operated and is not a party to arrangements made directly between a passenger and an independent transport company.
Venice and Treviso – Alternative ground connections
A separate airport near Venice is Treviso Antonio Canova (TSF), which serves a different network of airlines and destinations. A road transfer between VCE and TSF is possible, but a flight only moves between airports when the airline formally changes its arrangements. Visitors travelling to historic Venice should also remember that road vehicles generally reach only Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto. Reaching a hotel within the islands may then require walking or water transport, which is a distinct final stage of the journey.
Connections beyond the airports of northern Italy
Delays affecting aircraft or trains can disrupt travel beyond Milan and Venice, including trips towards Como, Turin, Verona, Padua and neighbouring regions. Multi-leg itineraries, evening arrivals and groups travelling with heavy luggage may be particularly exposed to missed connections. A prearranged private car can link the airport with a specific destination address, but a vehicle is not guaranteed to be available immediately after a cancellation announcement. Departure time, meeting point and the conditions of travel depend on the provider and the traffic situation on the day.
Refunds and passenger rights
Rail passengers affected by cancelled services are subject to the relevant operator's rules on refunds and changes, which vary by ticket type, train category and fare conditions. For air travel, European Regulation EC 261/2004 provides specific rights following cancellations and lengthy delays, including assistance, reimbursement or rerouting in qualifying circumstances. Financial compensation is not automatic for every strike: eligibility depends on the cause of the disruption and its particular circumstances. Industrial action by independent air traffic controllers should not be treated as identical to a strike involving an airline's own employees.
Situation as of 15 November 2026
As of 15 November, the announced actions remain listed in official information sources, but their timing, participation and operating arrangements may still change. The main references are the Italian transport ministry strike calendar, notices from Trenord and Trenitalia, and ENAC's guaranteed-flights information. Private road transfers remain one possible alternative to disrupted public transport, but should not be described as an automatic replacement for a cancelled train or flight.
