November 13, 2026 — Travelers in Italy next week face the worst two days of a busy strike month: a nationwide general strike on Friday, November 20, followed by an overnight national rail strike and an air traffic control walkout on Saturday, November 21.
Italy’s largest union confederation, CGIL, has called a 24-hour general strike on November 20 across public and private sectors, including transport, schools and healthcare. CGIL is acting alone; the CISL and UIL unions are not taking part.
A separate national rail strike called by the CUB and SGB unions runs from 9 p.m. on November 20 to 8 p.m. on November 21. Staff at ENAV, Italy’s air navigation service provider, are also due to strike on Saturday, November 21, and local public transport stoppages are planned in several cities.
| Date | Action | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Fri. Nov. 20 | 24-hour general strike, all sectors | CGIL |
| Nov. 20, 9 p.m. – Nov. 21, 8 p.m. | National rail strike | CUB / SGB |
| Sat. Nov. 21 | Air traffic control strike (hours TBA) | ENAV staff |
What it means for non-revs
- November 21 is the riskiest day to fly in or out of Italy: an air traffic control strike usually means cancellations, and protected passengers are reaccommodated first, which squeezes standby seats.
- If you’re listed into Rome, Milan or Venice that weekend, try to arrive by Thursday, November 19 or wait until Sunday, and keep a positive-space backup in mind.
- Don’t count on trains from Friday evening into Saturday night. Pre-book a car or transfer from the airport.
Sources
- Il Sole 24 Ore — November strike calendar: Nov. 20 national general strike
- Visit World Today — Italy strikes in November 2026 and what tourists should know
- Finanza.com — Sciopero generale 20 novembre: fermi trasporti, scuola e sanità
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
Subscribe free
