Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority, ENAC, has updated its protected-flight information ahead of the scheduled easyJet crew strike on Friday, 16 October. The notice identifies departure windows and specific services that must operate under minimum service rules.
The industrial action is scheduled from 00:00 until 23:59 and involves flight crew employed by Easy Jet Airlines Limited. ENAC marked its notice as revised on 12 October 2026.
For tourists, the key protections include selected connections serving Olbia and Lampedusa, alongside a Milan Malpensa departure to Sharm el-Sheikh. However, the document identifies guaranteed services rather than confirmed cancellations across the airline’s schedule.
Morning and Evening Departure Windows Protected
Flights scheduled to depart between 07:00 and 10:00, and between 18:00 and 21:00, fall within protected operating windows. These times refer to local Italian time, and the protection includes charter departures.
The scheduled departure time therefore provides an important first check for passengers reviewing their bookings.
Nevertheless, travellers should continue monitoring airline notifications and flight status. Minimum service protection does not remove the need to check operational updates before leaving for the airport.
The framework also covers certain island charters, intercontinental arrivals and flights already under way. Additional provisions address qualifying departures delayed for reasons outside the parties’ control.
Five Named Flights Receive Specific Protection
Beyond the general departure windows, ENAC identifies five flights for specific protection during the strike.
The Naples–Olbia service, EJU 4115, appears alongside its return flight, EJU 4116, from Olbia to Naples.
Milan Malpensa–Lampedusa flight EJU 3599 also appears, together with EJU 3600 from Lampedusa to Milan Malpensa.
These four services fall within the document’s category covering island connections with a single daily frequency.
The fifth named service is EJU 3897, departing Milan Malpensa for Sharm el-Sheikh. ENAC includes it within its intercontinental departure provisions.
Passengers should compare flight numbers as well as destinations. Protection for one named service does not establish that every departure on that route receives identical treatment.
Unlisted Flights May Still Operate
Travellers should avoid interpreting the protected list as a complete account of easyJet’s operating schedule for 16 October.
ENAC allows additional services where the airline can operate them according to expected staff participation. Consequently, flights outside the named list or protected windows may still depart.
The notice provides no confirmed cancellation total or estimate of affected passengers. It also gives no percentage of the schedule expected to face disruption.
For passengers, this distinction has practical financial implications. Purchasing another ticket simply because a flight is unlisted could create unnecessary costs.
The most useful information remains the airline’s notification concerning the individual booking.
Island Connections Matter for Autumn Tourism
The protected Olbia and Lampedusa services are particularly relevant to travellers whose itineraries depend on island access.
A confirmed flight change can affect hotel check-in, airport transfers and other arrangements made around an expected arrival time. Travellers should coordinate those bookings once the airline confirms an operational change.
Italy’s wider tourism scale explains the importance of dependable transport. Istat’s Italian Statistical Yearbook 2025 reports 466.2 million accommodation overnight stays during 2024.
That total exceeded 2023 by 4.2% and stood 6.7% above 2019. Non-residents accounted for 54.5% of recorded nights.
These figures describe accommodation activity rather than individual visitors or airline passengers. They provide tourism context without measuring this strike’s economic consequences.
Travel Businesses Need Confirmed Arrival Updates
Hotels, transfer providers and tour operators can use flight-specific information to assess whether arrangements require adjustment.
A protected-flight notice alone does not establish that a guest will arrive late or cancel a stay. Businesses should therefore act on confirmed changes rather than assumptions about the wider strike.
Travellers receiving revised arrival details should inform accommodation and transport providers promptly. This can help coordinate check-in and collection arrangements.
The available information establishes no measured losses for tourism businesses. Claims about revenue, employment or destination demand would therefore require further evidence.
Passenger Options Depend on Actual Disruption
Where European Union passenger-rights rules apply, eligible travellers facing cancellation retain reimbursement or rerouting options, alongside applicable assistance.
Airline employee strikes do not automatically remove potential compensation obligations. However, compensation depends on the circumstances, including notification and the disruption experienced.
Passengers should retain booking records, airline messages and receipts for necessary expenses. They should also review the carrier’s offered options before arranging replacement travel independently.
ENAC’s guaranteed-flight information may receive further additions or amendments as schedules change. For departures on 16 October, continued booking checks remain essential, including for travellers whose services appear within the protected provisions.
