The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport confirmed on March 13 a series of airport strikes, including a full 24-hour walkout by ground-handling workers at Milan-Malpensa (MXP) and Milan-Linate (LIN) airports on Monday, March 18.www.visahq.comwww.visahq.com Called by the OST Cup Transport union, the action targets baggage and cargo handlers from Airport Handling, DNATA, and ALHA, potentially disrupting operations across Italy's busiest long-haul gateway, which handled 26.1 million passengers in 2025.www.theflightclub.itwww.travelpirates.com Supporting strikes include a four-hour stoppage (13:00-17:00 CET) by ITA Airways and easyJet crews, plus action at Brescia-Montichiari.www.visahq.com

ENAC, Italy's Civil Aviation Authority, has mandated protected time slots from 07:00-10:00 and 18:00-21:00 CET, during which key flights must operate, and published lists of guaranteed services. Past similar strikes at Malpensa have led to 35-45% of departures being canceled, with cascading delays rippling to European hubs as crews and aircraft fall out of position. Travelers are urged to check airline apps, consider flexible bookings or alternate routes like Rome Fiumicino, and prepare for immigration delays or cargo backlogs affecting fashion and pharma shipments.

The strikes underscore Milan's reliance on third-party handlers, with Aeroporti di Milano planning an in-house contingency pool not ready until Q4 2026. Under Italy's Law 146/1990, the government's updated strike calendar fulfills the notice period, making last-minute cancellations unlikely absent safety issues. Business and leisure passengers should build buffers into schedules to mitigate widespread disruptions.