what to know about the aircraft strike – Corriere.it

Today will be a field day for air traffic: a thousand flights and 150,000 passengers risk being blocked between 10 and 18 for the concurrence of three national (and other local) strikes, in particular that of the personnel involved in the so-called handling (ground assistance to passengers). A protest that re-proposes the dilemma between the right to abstain from work and the protection of the mass of citizens leaving for their holidays. Therefore, a six-hour stop that risks disrupting air traffic and blocking tens of thousands of people. Point by point:

A thousand missed take-offs

According to the estimates of our expert Leonard Berberi, over a thousand take-offs from our country are at risk – on national and international routes – in the eight hours of unrest and around 150,000 people should be involved. Another 85,000 travelers affected by the cancellations of flights arriving in Italy during the strike must be added.

The companies involved

Ita Airways has canceled 133 departures: here is the list of canceled flights. A hundred flights missed for EasyJet. Ryanair also announces cancellations, Lufthansa and Wizz Air warn passengers of probable disruptions.

The stopovers

There are 144 canceled flights at Milan Malpensa, almost 70 at Linate, over 50 at Rome Fiumicino, about thirty at Turin, several dozen at Naples, Venice and Catania.

But why strike?

The handling employees (check-in, baggage registration, boarding at the gate) protest in support of the dispute for the renewal of the employment contract which has expired for six years. Leonard explains: A delicate moment in the European skies. But while a year ago the problems were the boom in demand and the lack of personnel, this time it is above all union tensions. The latest threat posed by the eight-day strike called by ground staff at London Gatwick airport between late July and early August shortly after EasyJet announced the cancellation of 1,700 flights until September due to problems at the British airport.

Salvini’s move

The Minister of Infrastructure appealed to common sense to reduce even spontaneously the time slot in which one can strike and has convened a table between companies and workers for next week.

The wrong day according to ENAC

The president of the National Aviation Authority Pierluigi Di Palma has something to say about the chosen day. Because I don’t see a balance between the right to strike, which must be protected, and the citizen’s right to move. The key point is that previously strikes were held on Fridays, now on Saturdays. is new and has a greater impact. But it ends up affecting other workers who are going on vacation more, underlines Di Palma.

But what are the rights of passengers?

In the event of a flight canceled due to a strike, the airline is required to provide timely information, assist the passenger and ensure rerouting, i.e. transfer to the next available flight.

What if the passenger gives up?

The traveler not interested in an alternative flight is entitled to a full refund of the ticket.

What about compensation?

No: the passenger has the right to a refund but not to further compensation for the inconvenience caused by the strike, because the strike is one of the exceptional circumstances for which the company is not responsible.

Are there time slots and protected flights?

S: Today there are 45 domestic and 39 intercontinental flights guaranteed during the strike. As for the periods of protection, those in which one cannot strike, there are two: from 7 to 10 and from 18 to 21. Today’s strike falls exactly between one period and another.

Maxi band to extend?

the span of time in which it was established in Italy that no air strikes were to be carried out: an absolute truce that went from 27 July to 5 September. But perhaps in an age of such variable mobility, of ever shorter and more intermittent holidays, one could begin to reflect on whether it should be reviewed, extended, to take account of these times. A clause that reveals a great sense of responsibility on the part of the unions, but which at this point may no longer be sufficient, writes Nicola Saldutti in his editorial. Well, more than ever, have a good trip.

This article was published for the first time in Prima Ora, one of the newsletters that the Corriere reserves for its subscribers. To receive it, you need to register with Il Punto, of which the First Hour is one of the appointments: you can do it here.

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