# Italy General Strike on May 29, 2026: Air Travel Significantly Affected

_May 27 12:01_

Tags: Emirates, ITA Airways, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Cagliari, Calgary, Catania, Dallas, Florence, Italy

A national general strike by air traffic controllers in Italy on Friday, May 29, 2026, will disrupt most flights. Only flights departing between 7–10 AM and 6–9 PM, plus select intercontinental routes, are protected

## Summary

A 24-hour general strike in the Italian air transport sector is scheduled for May 29, 2026. Air traffic controllers will participate, significantly affecting flights outside of protected time slots. **Protected Time Slots:**
Flights departing between 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00 are guaranteed to operate. **Guaranteed Flights:**
- All charter flights to/from Italian islands authorized prior to the strike proclamation.
- Specific single-frequency island routes (e.g., Florence-Catania, Naples-Olbia, Venice-Cagliari).
- Domestic flights in progress at the start of the strike.
- International flights arriving at domestic airports within 30 minutes of the strike start. **Intercontinental Flights:**
All incoming intercontinental flights are guaranteed. Outgoing intercontinental flights are also protected, including routes to/from New York, Dallas, Toronto, Calgary, Newark, Seattle, São Paulo, Mexico City, Montreal, Delhi, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Singapore, Sharm El Sheikh, Cairo, Doha, Tel Aviv, Jeddah, Dubai, Kuwait, Baku, Muscat, and Marsa Alam operated by airlines such as ITA Airways, Delta, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and others. **Impact:**
Most other flights, particularly those outside the protected windows, will be cancelled or delayed. Travelers should check their specific flight status

## Why it matters

Affects 20 airline programs (Air Astana, Air Canada, Alitalia...).

## Sources cited

- [LoyaltyLobby](https://loyaltylobby.com/2026/05/27/italy-general-strike-on-friday-may-29-2026-air-travel-significantly-affected?omhide=true) — Italy General Strike On Friday May 29, 2026 & Air Travel Significantly Affected

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