Air travel faces disruption in Europe this week as employees in the aviation sector threaten to walk out.
Strikes are planned for tomorrow, 9 April, in Italy and Greece, which may impact families taking a trip during the UK’s school break. Those planning trips in the run-up to the Easter holiday could be impacted, too.
Travellers are advised to check their flight status regularly and prepare for potential delays and cancellations.
Italy: EasyJet flight attendants strike
EasyJet flight attendants affiliated with Italian trade unions (FILT, CGIL, and UIL) are scheduled to strike on 9 April from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm CET.
The industrial action is expected to affect some flights to and from Milan and Naples airports.
“We would like to reassure customers that we are doing all possible to minimise any disruption as a result of the strike action and should any flights be impacted we will be contacting customers directly with their options to help rearrange their plans,” the airline told UK newspaper The Independent.
Greece: Air traffic controllers plan walkouts
The Italian industrial action comes on the same day as strikes in Greece, potentially aggravating travel disruption across the continent.
Greek air traffic controllers have planned a 24-hour strike called by the public sector employee federation ADEDY on 9 April.
ADEDY is demanding the reinstatement of bonus holiday salaries, real wage increases and measures to combat Greece’s housing crisis.
“Unfortunately, air traffic control in Greece is in a bad situation as we have staffing shortages and equipment problems which cause a lot of delays in the last years and will cause a lot this year as well,” the Greek Air Traffic Controllers’ Association told The Independent.
The group added that staff would restrict flight handling during the walkout to medical and search and rescue services, humanitarian aid and military flights, and emergencies, according to the Greek media.
This means commercial flights to and from the country will bear the brunt of the disruption.
Travellers are advised to check flight statuses regularly and prepare for delays and cancellations.
