Travelers planning an Easter getaway have found themselves in a state of disarray as strike action in Greece and Italy has caused a major airport to close, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded and flights from the UK affected.
Industrial Action in Italy and Greece
Italian air traffic controllers and cabin crew from easyJet have joined forces in a coordinated strike action over pay, with the Italian Federation of Transport Workers, the Italian General Confederation of Labour, and the Italian Union of Transport as key players. The strike began at 10:30 am Italian local time and is disrupting services to and from Naples and Milan.
- Workers in Italy are calling for an end to austerity measures and higher wages to match the rising cost of living.
- EasyJet cabin crew and air traffic controllers in Italy have joined forces to disrupt flights and services to and from Naples and Milan.
The strike has also impacted flights in Greece, with the Greek Air Traffic Controllers’ Association expressing concerns about staffing shortages and equipment problems, which have caused delays in recent years and will likely cause further disruptions this year.
Airports and Flight Disruptions
| Airports | Disruptions |
|---|---|
| Athens Airport | 24-hour closure, with 176 flights canceled |
| Thessaloniki Airport | 43 flights grounded |
| Rhodes Airport | 19 services canceled |
| Heraklion Airport | 24 flights canceled |
| Chania Airport | 24 flights canceled |
The easyJet walkout, which began at 10:30 am Italian local time, is expected to end by 2:30 pm on Thursday, April 9, but frustrated fliers have found themselves in the midst of the delays and cancellations.
Reactions and Consequences
One traveler took to social media to express frustration, saying, “IT’S SO OVER. My family and I were supposed to go to Greece for Easter break, but somehow we got stranded in Italy due to the 24-hour strike in Athens? Everyone is so stressed and feeling hopeless because our flight got canceled, and we can’t find any rebooking options.”
Another passenger expressed concern about the lack of compensation, saying, “What is Easy waiting for to cancel? With the flight not being canceled yet and not being provided with an option to refund/reschedule at no extra cost, we are left not knowing when we are in fact going to Greece and can’t make any plans re this trip!
