Italy strike: Hundreds of flights grounded by wave of worker walkouts

Tens of thousands of passengers are trying to find alternative departures

Picture: (AFP/Getty Images)

Hundreds of flights to, from and within Italy have been cancelled by a wave of strikes by transport workers.

Employees of Alitalia, the national airline, have triggered the grounding of more than 200 flights.

They include links from Rome and Milan Malpensa to Heathrow and Milan to London City.

Passengers may be able to claim cash compensation through European air passengers’ rights rules because Alitalia employees — pilots, cabin crew and ground staff – are involved.

Most foreign airlines flying to Italy will be hit by air-traffic control strikes, and stoppages by airport personnel.

UK airlines have grounded dozens of services, with easyJet passengers worst affected. The airline has cancelled at least 32 flights to and from Italy, including links from its main base, Gatwick to Bologna, Catania, Olbia, Pisa, Rome, Verona and Venice.

Services on easyJet from Luton to Pisa and Venice, from Manchester to Catania and Milan, from Bristol to Rome and Venice and from Edinburgh to Milan have also been grounded.

British Airways has cancelled two return flights from Heathrow to each of Rome and Milan Malpensa, as well as single round-trips to Bologna, Pisa and Venice.

Two of BA’s Gatwick to Verona round-trips have been grounded, plus a journey to Venice and back from the Sussex airport.

From London City, British Airways has cancelled its flight to and from Florence.

Flybe departures from Birmingham and Manchester to Milan have both been delayed by four hours to circumvent the strike.

Under European air passengers’ rights rules, if an airline that cancels a flight cannot provide a suitable alternative flight on the same day then it must buy seats on another carrier.

Airlines must also provide meals, and if necessary, accommodation during long delays.