Travellers from France warned of major Italian strike in December
Rail, air, and ferry transport all set to be impacted
Major strikes were already held in November. Photo for illustrative purposes only
bepsy/Shutterstock
Travellers heading to Italy are being warned about major strikes planned across the country this December.
Italy’s largest union the CGIL has called on workers to walk out on Friday December 12 across multiple sectors, in protest over the country’s 2026 budget, the cost of living, and job precarity.
A similar day of action on November 28 saw flights to and from several major airports including Milan Malpensa, Naples, Venice, and Bologna cancelled. This affected both domestic and international services.
Public transport services were also impacted on the day, including services to airports, and several marches took place in cities such as Turin and Genoa disrupting road and foot traffic.
Similar scenes are expected on December 12, with unions announcing that disruption to rail and ferry services is likely as well as further airport disruption.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mocked the strikes on social media, hinting that protestors simply wanted a long weekend.
“What day of the week is December 12?” she queried in her post.
Rail, roads, ferries, and planes
More detailed information will be available closer to the date, however travellers heading towards Italy around the date should keep an eye on developments.
This includes those taking train services from the French Riviera to the Ligurian coast.
High-speed services between Paris and Milan are run by both the French SNCF and Italian TrenItalia. The French-operated services are unlikely to see disruption as SNCF workers are not striking, although they may be impacted by striking workers on the Italian network.
Drivers crossing from France to Italy will be less impacted, as there is little chance of disruption to border roads.
The Mont Blanc tunnel will reopen on December 12, easing congestion on other routes and helping traffic flow through the Alps.
However, anyone driving to Italy should ensure they are up to date with the country’s driving rules – particularly around tyres and city parking – and if heading to a ski resort, remember that helmets are mandatory when skiing on Italian slopes.
Airline passengers should keep in contact with their operator for updates.
Disruption to travel via strikes held by groups unaffiliated with airlines themselves are often classified as ‘extraordinary circumstances’ meaning compensation will not be offered to affected passengers (although refunds for cancelled flights are paid out).
