Rome Airports Hit by Four-Hour Staff Strike, Causing Travel Disruptions

Airport Operations Affected

Air travelers passing through Rome's Fiumicino (FCO) and Ciampino (CIA) airports experienced considerable disruptions on Monday, October 13, 2025, due to a four-hour strike by employees of Aeroporti di Roma (AdR). The industrial action took place from midday (12:00 PM) until 4:00 PM (16:00) local time, impacting both domestic and international flights.

The strike, organized by the FAST / CONFSAL unions, led to potential delays and cancellations. Passengers with flights scheduled during this period were advised to verify their flight status with their respective airlines, arrive at the airport earlier than usual, and prepare for extended waiting times at security checkpoints and check-in counters.

Reasons Behind the Industrial Action

The unions, including Fast-Confsal Air Transport, initiated the strike to protest several key issues. A primary concern was the significant delay in renewing the collective bargaining agreement for the airline industry. Union statements highlighted that the latest version of the agreement, which expired at the end of 2022, was not set to come into force until January 1, 2026, creating a 36-month gap during which workers' compensation rights were left in limbo.

Other grievances included:

• A demand for better wages and enhanced protection for workers.
• The perception that the renewal of the national contract for airport operators represented a 'serious step backwards' for employees.
• Concerns over 'three years of lost pay' and an economic effective date limited to January 1, 2025, despite the 2022 expiry.
• A lack of 'real improvement in regulatory conditions and organizational well-being'.
• Insufficient attention to 'work–life balance and to the recognition of the staff'.

A union statement emphasized that 'In a sector in full recovery, with positive balance sheets and consolidated profits, it is unacceptable that workers continue to be the balancing item for others' accounts. Work is not an expense to be compressed: it is the engine that moves the airport system. And it deserves respect, recognition and dignity.'

Mitigation and Broader Context

Despite the strike, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) ensures minimum services during national air-sector strikes. Flights typically guaranteed during these periods are those scheduled between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The AdR strike was specifically confined to the midday hours, falling outside these protected windows. Additionally, all flights to and from the Tuscany region were guaranteed due to ongoing regional elections.

This strike at Rome's airports was part of a broader series of transport-related industrial actions affecting Italy throughout October 2025. The event also occurred the day after Fiumicino airport implemented the European Union's new digital border system, the Entry/Exit System (EES).