For those of you who are planning on visiting Europe this month:

Italy: September transportation strikes

Italian officials have announced strike dates for September. The strikes, if not averted, have the potential to cause disruptions nationwide. Confirm reservations.

September 6: Enav air traffic controllers to stage strike nationwide from noon to 4 PM. Enav Uaav air traffic controllers at Perugia Airport (PEG) plan to strike from 2 PM to 6 PM. Expect flight delays and possible cancellations.

September 6: Alitalia personnel plan to strike from noon to 4 PM in the Piemonte (Piedmont) regional airports. Sagat baggage handlers plan a concurrent regional strike in Piemonte. Flights could be disrupted nationwide.

September 6–7: Italian transportation officials have announced a 48-hour nationwide general strike.

September 7–8: Flight attendants with Alitalia have postponed a 48-hour strike originally planned for August 30–31. Workers intend to strike despite a government ruling that a strike would violate service guarantees during the peak travel season. The strike may cause delays and cancellations of flights to and from airports in Italy. Confirm all flights.

September 17: Venice-region airport personnel (including airports at VCE and TSF) plan a 24-hour regional strike.

September 21: 24-hour nationwide strike of local public transportation, including buses, trams, subways and local trains. Expect significant disruptions; confirm rental car reservations.

September 22–23: Trenitalia workers plan a 24-hour strike in the Abruzzo region beginning at 9 PM September 22. Expect train delays or cancellations in the region.

September 27: Enav air traffic controllers to strike nationwide from noon to 4 PM. Expect flight delays and possible cancellations.

Italian unions often abort strikes at the last minute. Assume the strikes will occur as planned and make alternate arrangements in case of service delays or cancellations.

I often thought it would be more efficent to list the Italian transportation workers who were NOT considering striking in any given month!

Bill

Once again proving "everything happens for a reason" - I was supposed to leave for a week in Tuscany followed by a cruise on the Voyager next Friday, but cancelled it due to my job change.

Hopefully things will work out for others who may be traveling to Italy.

"I often thought it would be more efficent to list the Italian transportation workers who were NOT considering striking in any given month!"

Bill

LOL at Bill's comment! In a way it's reassuring that despite the madness of the world we live in we can count on Italy maintaining that time honored tradition, the dreaded "sciopero".

All the times I've visited Italy there has been some form of strike going on. These are usually short in duration, although of course, depending what your plans for the day are, can prove to be very disruptive.

I think its nice that they give you a schedule :)

My land TA said never book Aitalia for your air - even if you were going to use miles. You can be stranded by one of their strikes for long periods trying to re-book.

In the last four times I've been in Italy, I've been stranded in Italy 3 out of 4 times due to Alitalia. Although Italy isn't exactly hard ship duty to be stranded in, you just got to roll with the punches, leave the airport, chill, extend your business trip, have some great food and hope that when you re-try to get home, somebody else (usually its the infamous baggage handlers and their supporters) won't be on strike.

Bill