A powerful strike at airports in Europe. What about Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet flights?

The beginning of the vacation period brings terrible news to millions of tourists planning to travel across Europe. A powerful wave of strikes has just begun, which includes key airports in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Groundhandling and on-board crew protests of popular airlines, including Ryanair, Wizz Air, EasyJet and VoloteaThey endanger to completely paralyze the connection grid. Passengers must prepare for mass cancellations, hourly delays and chaos at airports. Difficulties are expected to last at least the full weekend, and in any cases may extend even for August. Experts advise to monitor the position of their flight on an ongoing basis and remind passengers of their rights, including the anticipation of obtaining advanced compensation.

Italy in the epicentre of protests. Which airports are at risk?

The main focus of the protests is Italy, where aviation workers request improved working conditions, greater safety and renegotiation of national collective agreements. According to the Euronews portal, the scheduled Saturday strike is expected to take place four hours, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.. At this time, baggage handling, ground handling and airport staff will leave their positions.

Paralysis will affect the largest and most popular among tourists Italian airports. The list includes key transfer hubs and mark ports specified as:

• Milan-Malpensa (MXP)
• Milan-Linate (LIN)
• Rome-Fiumicino (FCO)
• Florence (FLR)
• Naples (NAP)
• Venice (VCE)

The situation at Milan-Linate Airport may be peculiarly difficult, as Swisssport staff liable for goal handling and briefing will besides join the protest. The strike is attended by workers operating lines specified as EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Wizz Air, Tui, Volotea and the national carrier ITA Airways. This is the second specified large protest in Italy this month. In early July, a akin action led to the cancellation of almost 80 flights in 1 day.

Paralysis spills to Spain and Portugal

Unfortunately, problems are not limited to Italy. The protest action is global and besides includes another popular vacation destinations. In Spain, pilots and flight crew of inexpensive airlines joined the strike Volotea. This is simply a blow for tourists, as this carrier operates more than 100 routes across Europe and its network of connections is crucial for smaller, regional airports.

Interference with Volotea flights will have a domino effect, affecting connections with France, Greece and another Mediterranean countries. Passengers of this line must deal with cancelled or delayed flights throughout the weekend. Equally serious difficulties await people travelling to and from Portugal. Company employees there Menzies Aviation, providing ground handling services, besides announced a strike. The biggest problems are expected at the capital airport in Lisbon.

Worse still, Portuguese trade unionists announced that this was only the beginning. It is planned to extend the strike action to next 4 weekends of August. This means that the chaos at Portuguese airports can take almost the full highest of the vacation season, which makes the plans of thousands of tourists questionable.

What does that mean for passengers? These flights should take place without interference

In the face of chaos, ongoing monitoring of the situation is crucial. Airlines are obliged to inform passengers of changes in the position of their flights, but it is besides worth checking the information on its own. authoritative communications on the situation at Italian airports are published on the website Ministry of Transport of Italy. Before going to the airport, it is absolutely essential to check the position of your flight on the carrier's website or in the mobile application.

Despite the wide scope of protests, not all flights will be cancelled. Italian law imposes on strikers an work to supply a minimum level of service at certain times to defend passengers. According to regulations, flights scheduled in the alleged "guaranteed windows" should be carried out without disruption. These hours are:

• 7:00 to 10:00 a.m.
• 18:00 to 21:00 evening

If your flight falls within these time periods, there is simply a good chance that it will take off as planned. Nevertheless, be prepared for possible delays resulting from operational congestion before and after the strike is over.

Cancelled flight by strike? You can claim advanced compensation

The cancelled or importantly delayed flight is not only ruined vacation plans but besides the basis for seeking financial compensation. Passenger rights in the European Union defend Regulation (EC) No 261/2004which, in certain situations, gives a right to compensation of between EUR 250 and 600.

It is crucial to separate who is organizing the strike. As explained by Darina Kovacheva, SkyRefund's legal director, quoted by RMF24, “when passenger travel disruptions are caused by airline workers, for example the planned Volotea staff strike, passengers may be entitled to compensation”. This is due to the fact that the strike of its own personnel is considered to be a substance of the carrier's work and responsibility.

The amount of compensation depends on the dimension of the route:

• EUR 250 for flights up to 1500 km long.
• EUR 400 for intra-EU flights of more than 1500 km and for another flights of between 1500 km and 3,500 km.
• EUR 600 for all another flights.

Please note that in addition to compensation, the airline is required to supply care for passengers – meals, drinks and, if necessary, accommodation and transport to the hotel. It is worth keeping all the bills to be able to claim reimbursement.