Milan Malpensa airport strike: cancelled flights, guaranteed flights and your rights
Strikes at Malpensa come from ENAV air traffic controllers, ground handlers, airport operator SEA's staff, and the crews of airlines based there such as easyJet. Who strikes decides what you are owed: a refund or another flight and care always, compensation of €250 to €600 only in some cases.
Last updated: October 16, 2026
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Strikes announced at Malpensa
As of 16 October 2026, the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport's strike calendar lists:
- Saturday 21 November 2026: a 4-hour national strike, 13:00 to 17:00, by staff of ENAV, Italy's air traffic control provider (FILT-CGIL and UGL-TA);
- Sunday 22 November 2026: a 24-hour strike, 00:01 to 24:00, by ENAV staff at Milan Malpensa airport (RSA FAST-CONFSAL-AV);
- Friday 4 December 2026: a national general strike that includes air transport, with the details not yet published.
Italy's civil aviation authority (ENAC) publishes the list of guaranteed flights shortly before each strike. Strikes can be called off up to 7 days before: we will update this page.
Who works at Malpensa, and who can strike
Malpensa is run by SEA, which also runs Linate. Passenger and baggage handling is done mainly by Airport Handling, with Aviapartner among the other handlers; ALHA and MLE-BCUBE handle cargo. Air traffic control is provided by ENAV.
Malpensa is easyJet's main base in Italy, at Terminal 2; Wizz Air also has aircraft based there, as does Ryanair to a lesser extent (its main Milan base is Bergamo). National strikes by these airlines' staff therefore hit Malpensa especially hard.
Recent strikes at Malpensa
- 5 July 2026: handlers, easyJet crew and ENAV controllers at Malpensa struck on the same day. According to the unions, as reported by ANSA, about 160 flights were cancelled across Malpensa and Linate.
- 26 February 2026: a sector-wide strike plus ITA Airways and easyJet Europe staff; 30 flights cancelled at Malpensa, announced in advance.
- 9 January 2026: a 4-hour ground-handling strike; 22 flights cancelled at Malpensa.
- 26 September 2025: a general strike joined by ground handlers and Wizz Air and Volotea crews; 39 flights cancelled at Malpensa.
- 24 September 2024: a 24-hour strike by ground and security staff; more than 70 flights cancelled at Malpensa.
- 16 October 2026: a 24-hour national strike by easyJet cabin crew.
Strike at Malpensa: when compensation is owed
It depends on who strikes. If the flight crew or staff of the airline operating your flight strike, as in the easyJet strikes, the Court of Justice of the European Union does not treat it as an extraordinary circumstance (Airhelp v SAS, C-28/20, 2021): if your flight was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or arrived 3 hours or more late, you are generally owed €250 to €600.
If ENAV controllers, ground handlers or SEA staff strike, that is a third party: compensation is generally not owed. In every case the airline must offer a refund or another flight, and meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel while you wait. It is for the airline to prove which strike caused the cancellation.
Italy's rules on aviation strikes
An aviation strike in Italy must be called at least 12 days ahead and can be called off up to 7 days before. During a strike, departures scheduled between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00 must operate, as must the flights ENAC lists; outside those windows, airports run a reduced share of traffic.
Aviation strikes are banned in certain periods: 18 December to 7 January, 24 April to 2 May, 27 June to 4 July, 27 July to 5 September, 30 October to 5 November, Easter week and the days around elections (rules of Italy's strike guarantee commission, decision 14/387).
Where to complain
First complain to the airline in writing. If it has not answered within six weeks, or you are not satisfied, you can go to ENAC, which enforces the Regulation and can fine airlines but does not make them pay you. You can also try the free conciliation of Italy's transport regulator (ART) on ConciliaWeb, which is not compulsory before going to court for the fixed compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Will my flight from Malpensa be cancelled on 22 November?
Not necessarily. The ENAV strike at Malpensa on 22 November lasts 24 hours, but departures between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00 are guaranteed, and ENAC will publish a list of other guaranteed flights. If your flight is cancelled, you are owed a refund or another flight; as it is an air traffic control strike, compensation is generally not owed.
easyJet strike at Malpensa: am I owed compensation?
As a rule yes, if you were told of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure or arrived 3 hours or more late: a strike by easyJet's own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance. You are also owed a refund or another flight, and care while you wait.
Are there periods when strikes at Italian airports are not allowed?
Yes. Aviation strikes are banned, among other periods, from 18 December to 7 January, from 27 July to 5 September and from 30 October to 5 November, which is why strikes cluster in the months just before and after.
My flight was in a guaranteed window but left 3 hours late. Am I owed anything?
That depends on the cause of the delay, not the window: if the delay was not caused by a third party's strike but, for example, by a technical fault or by the airline itself, compensation may be owed. Ask the airline in writing for the reason.
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Official sources
The texts this page is based on: