Europe Flight Strikes: October and November 2026

Oct 15 2026 MFR travel team

Several Europe flight strikes are currently scheduled, with Italy seeing the largest concentration of aviation action. There is also possible industrial action at Leeds Bradford Airport and a nationwide general strike planned in Spain.

One thing to keep in mind: a scheduled strike does not automatically mean Your flight will be cancelled. Some actions are suspended after negotiations, others go ahead with minimum services, and the final impact can vary considerably from airport to airport.

Which Europe flight strikes should travellers watch?

The main dates currently on the calendar are:

• 16 October, Italy: 24-hour easyJet flight crew strike
• 16–18 October, Leeds Bradford: planned ATC strike suspended; airport says it will operate normally
• 23 October–2 November, Leeds Bradford: further industrial action remains possible
• 6 November, Italy: nationwide ENAV air traffic control strike, 13:00–17:00, with separate Bari action also listed
• 11 November, Spain: nationwide general strike; aviation impact is not yet confirmed
• 21 November, Italy: nationwide ENAV strike, 13:00–17:00
• 22 November, Milan Malpensa: 24-hour ENAV strike
• 22 November, Venice: 24-hour airport security staff strike

These are scheduled or proposed actions as of 15 October. Future strikes can still be suspended, changed or withdrawn.

16 October: easyJet strike in Italy

Passengers flying with easyJet in Italy should pay particular attention to 16 October.

Italy's official transport strike register lists a 24-hour nationwide strike involving easyJet flight crew, running from 00:00 to 23:59.

That does not mean every easyJet flight in Italy will be cancelled.

Italian aviation strikes have protected operating periods between 07:00–10:00 and 18:00–21:00, when flights must generally operate. ENAC has also published guaranteed flights for the day.

Disruption can still spread beyond the actual strike period. A late aircraft in Milan, for example, may then arrive late for another European service later in the day.

Leeds Bradford: the situation has changed

Leeds Bradford Airport is a good example of why strike headlines need context.

Air traffic controllers had been due to strike from 16 to 18 October, but that action was suspended after a new pay offer. The airport has said it expects to remain open and operate normally during that weekend.

Further industrial action from 23 October to 2 November has also been proposed. At the moment, those dates should be treated as a risk rather than guaranteed disruption.

One issue we regularly see with aviation strikes is that passengers react to an old headline after the situation has already changed. Before altering Your travel plans, check the latest information from the airline and airport.

November puts Italy firmly back on the strike calendar

Italy has several important airport strikes and air traffic control strikes scheduled for November.

On 6 November, ENAV personnel are due to hold a nationwide four-hour strike from 13:00 to 17:00. A separate ENAV action involving Bari is also listed for the same time period.

On 21 November, another nationwide ENAV strike is scheduled from 13:00 to 17:00.

Then comes 22 November. ENAV staff at Milan Malpensa are scheduled to strike for 24 hours, while Sicuritalia IVRI security personnel at Venice Marco Polo Airport also have a 24-hour strike listed.

That makes 21 and 22 November especially relevant for travellers using Italian airports.

What about Pisa and Florence on 30 October?

A 24-hour strike involving Toscana Aeroporti, GH Toscana and Consulta staff at Pisa and Florence appears in Italy's official strike register for 30 October.

There is a complication.

ENAC also lists 30 October to 5 November as a protected no-strike period for air transport.

Because those two official records create uncertainty around whether the action will actually go ahead as listed, I would not treat 30 October as a confirmed disruption date. Travellers using Pisa or Florence should monitor the situation closer to departure.

Spain's 11 November general strike: what do we actually know?

Spain's CCOO and UGT unions have called a nationwide general strike for 11 November 2026.

That is confirmed.

What is not confirmed is the scale of the impact on aviation. There is currently no reliable basis for saying that Spanish airports, airlines or air traffic control will shut down nationwide.

Public transport and journeys to and from airports could still be affected, so passengers travelling that day should leave extra time and check local transport updates.

Can you claim compensation if a strike affects your flight?

Sometimes, but the type of strike matters.

Under EU Regulation 261/2004, a strike by an airline's own employees is not automatically considered an extraordinary circumstance. This can include action by pilots, cabin crew or other airline staff.

External strikes are different. Air traffic control action or strikes by airport employees may qualify as extraordinary circumstances, which can mean the airline does not owe the standard EU261 compensation.

That does not automatically remove all passenger rights.

If Your flight is cancelled, You may still have rights to rerouting or reimbursement, and in some situations to meals, accommodation and transport while You wait.

In our experience at MYFLYRIGHT, this is where passengers often get mixed messages. “There was a strike” is not enough to decide whether compensation is due. The cause of the strike, who took part and how the airline reacted all matter.

About the author

Elena Velikova is a Senior Claim Specialist at MYFLYRIGHT with four years of professional experience handling flight disruption claims. Her work involves assessing delayed and cancelled flights, reviewing the circumstances behind disruptions and helping passengers understand when European air passenger rights may apply. Her day-to-day claims experience gives her practical insight into how strikes, operational problems and airline decisions can affect compensation eligibility.