Latest news with #DarinaKovacheva
Euronews
4 days ago
- Euronews
Weekend strikes across Italian airports to cause chaos for thousands
Thousands of travellers could see their summer holiday plans thrown into mayhem this weekend due to planned Italian strikes. Airport workers will stage a four-hour nationwide strike on 26 July, potentially leading to dozens of flight delays and cancellations. Demands for improved safety, better working conditions and work-life balance and national contract renewals are driving this industrial action. Where will flights be affected by strikes? Major airlines such as EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Wizz Air, Tui, Volotea and ITA Airways could be affected, as baggage handlers, ground staff and airport workers are expected to walk out at every major Italian airport from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday. This includes the Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Florence, Naples and Venice airports. At Milan Linate airport, Swissport gate services and check-in staff will also strike. Earlier this month, Italian strikes caused 73 incoming and outgoing flights to be cancelled in one day. This included flights from Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo and Naples. Spanish flights are also likely to be impacted this weekend, as budget Spanish airline Volotea's crew and pilots stage a strike on Saturday as well. This could have a widespread impact across key European air travel routes. The airline currently flies to more than 100 European cities. What can travellers do? While these upcoming strikes will no doubt cause inconveniences, there are several steps travellers can take to stay prepared and better informed. This includes checking the Italian Ministry of Transport's website for official strike information as well as asking specific airlines and airports for the latest updates. Travellers are also advised to confirm the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. If travel plans cannot be changed around strike dates, avoiding peak hours while heading to the airport and arriving with plenty of time to spare can help as well. Under Italian law, minimum service levels are required during strike action, which ensures that some flights operate as usual. Flights scheduled between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm usually fall under these regulations and are likely to not be impacted. The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) also publishes a list of guaranteed flights, which travellers can check for alternative arrangements. Flights to certain islands, such as to and from Sardinia, Sicily and Lampedusa, are often excluded from strikes as well. Travellers may be entitled to compensation in some cases. 'Under EU Regulation 261/2004, when disruption to a passenger's journey is caused by an airline's own employees, such as the planned Volotea staff strike, passengers may be eligible for compensation. This is because instances like these are considered within the airline's responsibility,' Darina Kovacheva, head of Legal at SkyRefund, said. She added: 'Volotea passengers whose flights are either delayed or cancelled at short notice due to this industrial action may be entitled to compensation of £250–£520 (€286.9-€453.2), based on the distance of their flight.'
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Strike action planned for the first weekend of summer holidays across Italian airports – it's set to cause chaos
STRIKES across Italian airports are set to cause trouble for British holidaymakers travelling this weekend. Advertisement 4 There's a planned strike across Italian airports this weekend Credit: Alamy 4 Airport workers are set to strike across major terminals Credit: Alamy Lots of Brits will be ditching the UK for a break in sunny The This will impact passengers heading to major terminals at airports including Rome Fiumicino, The Assohandlers group, which represents baggage handlers at dozens of airports across Italy, is set to strike. Advertisement Read More on Holidays The company has Ryanair, While the planned strike is set to last just four hours, it will also have a ripple effect on later services too. To add to the disruption, staff at Spanish budget airline, Strike action in Italy earlier this month ended with 73 flights scheduled to depart from and arrive in the country being cancelled in a single day. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Exclusive The scrapped flights included services from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Naples and Venice Marco Polo - affecting passengers travelling via Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist Popular Italian holiday hotspot bans walking barefoot, booze & picnics with rules-breaking tourists facing hefty fines 4 Workers for Spanish budget airline Volotea are also planning to strike Credit: Alamy She continued: "We highly recommend that passengers travelling to Italy this weekend monitor the status of their flight before travelling to the airport, as strikes like these can cause last minute cancellations." Advertisement For anyone flying with Volotea, Darina has said that certain passengers could be eligible for compensation if their flight is delayed or cancelled. She added: "Under EU Regulation 261/2004, when disruption to a passenger's journey is caused by an airline's own employees, such as the planned Volotea staff strike, passengers may be eligible for compensation." Several Italian airports have issued early warning on their websites and social media channels encouraging passengers to consider rescheduling flights. Advertisement There's already travel chaos for Brits who have been driving to the port of Dover and have been The RAC estimates that up to 13.9 million journeys could be made between July 21 and July 24. Here's more on Advertisement Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance. 4 Strikes are planned across Italian airports for this weekend Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Strike action planned for the first weekend of summer holidays across Italian airports – it's set to cause chaos
Plus, how to get compensation if your flight is cancelled AIR-NO Strike action planned for the first weekend of summer holidays across Italian airports – it's set to cause chaos STRIKES across Italian airports are set to cause trouble for British holidaymakers travelling this weekend. Italian officials have warned that aviation industry staff are planning to strike across Italy on the first Saturday of the summer holidays leading to potential flight delays and cancellations. 4 There's a planned strike across Italian airports this weekend Credit: Alamy 4 Airport workers are set to strike across major terminals Credit: Alamy Lots of Brits will be ditching the UK for a break in sunny Italy, but could be met with chaos due to strike action. The Italian Transport Ministry has announced that airport staff including security workers and baggage handlers are set to walk out for a four-hour shutdown between 1PM and 5PM on Saturday 26 July. This will impact passengers heading to major terminals at airports including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Florence and Venice. The Assohandlers group, which represents baggage handlers at dozens of airports across Italy, is set to strike. The company has Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI among its clients, meaning flights with those carriers could be impacted. While the planned strike is set to last just four hours, it will also have a ripple effect on later services too. To add to the disruption, staff at Spanish budget airline, Volotea, are set to walk out during the day as well. Strike action in Italy earlier this month ended with 73 flights scheduled to depart from and arrive in the country being cancelled in a single day. The scrapped flights included services from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Naples and Venice Marco Polo - affecting passengers travelling via Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist SkyRefund says: 'As we saw earlier this month, the ongoing discontent among aviation workers in Italy is causing mayhem for holidaymakers visiting the country. Popular Italian holiday hotspot bans walking barefoot, booze & picnics with rules-breaking tourists facing hefty fines 4 Workers for Spanish budget airline Volotea are also planning to strike Credit: Alamy She continued: "We highly recommend that passengers travelling to Italy this weekend monitor the status of their flight before travelling to the airport, as strikes like these can cause last minute cancellations." For anyone flying with Volotea, Darina has said that certain passengers could be eligible for compensation if their flight is delayed or cancelled. She added: "Under EU Regulation 261/2004, when disruption to a passenger's journey is caused by an airline's own employees, such as the planned Volotea staff strike, passengers may be eligible for compensation." Several Italian airports have issued early warning on their websites and social media channels encouraging passengers to consider rescheduling flights. There's already travel chaos for Brits who have been driving to the port of Dover and have been stuck in long queues to cross the Channel. The RAC estimates that up to 13.9 million journeys could be made between July 21 and July 24. Here's more on flight delays and what to do if you're affected. Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
Wales Online
03-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
11,000 passengers face disruption with industrial action on Wednesday
11,000 passengers face disruption with industrial action on Wednesday 110 flights have already been cancelled Passengers standing in line with their luggage, waiting to check in for their flight Finnair, which flies into and out of London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh, has announced it will cancel approximately 110 flights tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4, due to industrial action by the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) at Helsinki Airport. The airline expects the disruption to affect around 11,000 customers and has begun rebooking passengers on alternative flights where possible. The IAU's industrial action, set to take place in staggered four-hour blocks targeting different work shifts, is expected to cause widespread operational disruptions throughout the day. The strikes will affect essential services such as ground handling and catering, both of which are critical to Finnair's flight operations. According to Finnair, affected passengers will be contacted directly once their flight is cancelled and offered alternative routings. These will also appear in the 'Manage booking' tool and Finnair's mobile app. Customers will have the option to accept the proposed new flight, rebook within available options, or cancel their reservation and apply for a refund for any unused portion of the ticket. Finnair had already allowed customers scheduled to travel on 4 June to proactively reschedule their flights. Thousands have reportedly taken advantage of this option to avoid travel disruptions. Further strike warnings have already been issued for next Wednesday, 11 June, underscoring the potential for continued disruption. Negotiations have been stalled since late January, with hundreds of flights cancelled in recent months. The core issue centres on salary increases, with the IAU rejecting a recent proposal by the national mediator. According to the union, aviation sector wage growth has fallen behind other industries, citing missed raises in 2021 and 2022 as a key concern. Article continues below Passenger Rights During the Industrial Action: Despite the industrial action, air passengers' rights remain protected under European regulation EC 261/2004. "Airlines are required to rebook affected passengers to their final destinations at the earliest opportunity and provide Duty of Care—such as meals and hotel accommodations—in cases of significant delays," said Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist SkyRefund. Passengers whose flights are cancelled or significantly delayed may opt for a full refund. Compensation eligibility depends on the nature of the strike: If the strike involves Finnair's own employees, eligible passengers may receive compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance. If the disruption results from strikes by third-party staff, such as ground handlers not directly employed by the airline, the event is classified as an "extraordinary circumstance," and compensation is not owed. Nevertheless, passengers are advised to retain receipts for any related expenses. Article continues below Finnair encourages customers travelling on affected dates to monitor their email and SMS messages for updates and to visit the airline's website for the latest travel information.
Daily Record
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
110 flights cancelled at airline that serves Edinburgh
The IAU has announced a series of industrial actions that will significantly disrupt ground operations at one airport on June 2 and June 4 The Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) has declared a series of strikes starting today at an airline that serves Edinburgh and other UK airports. It will significantly disrupt ground operations at Helsinki Airport on June 2 and June 4. The strikes are due to an ongoing wage dispute between the IAU and the employers' association Palta. As a consequence of the planned four-hour work stoppage today, Finnair has had to cancel roughly 110 flights, affecting around 8,000 passengers. The airline is contacting all impacted customers directly via email or SMS to offer alternative arrangements. The IAU confirmed the strike would go ahead following the failure to reach a resolution in collective bargaining negotiations. The union has also issued further strike warnings for June 11, highlighting the potential for continued disruption. Talks have been at a standstill since late January, with hundreds of flights cancelled in recent months. The main issue revolves around salary increases, with the IAU rejecting a recent proposal by the national mediator. According to the union, aviation sector wage growth has lagged behind other industries. They have cited missed raises in 2021 and 2022 as a key concern, reports Bristol Live. In addition to London Heathrow, Finnair also operates flights to and from Manchester and Edinburgh. Passenger rights during the industrial action Despite the industrial action, air passengers' rights remain protected under European regulation EC 261/2004. "Airlines are required to rebook affected passengers to their final destinations at the earliest opportunity and provide Duty of Care-such as meals and hotel accommodations-in cases of significant delays," said Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist SkyRefund. Full refunds could be available Passengers whose flights are cancelled or significantly delayed may opt for a full refund. Compensation eligibility depends on the nature of the strike. If the strike involves Finnair's own employees, eligible passengers may receive compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance. If the disruption results from strikes by third-party staff, such as ground handlers not directly employed by the airline, the event is classified as an "extraordinary circumstance," and compensation is not owed. Nevertheless, passengers are advised to retain receipts for any related expenses. Finnair encourages customers traveling on affected dates to monitor their email and SMS messages for updates and to visit the airline's website for the latest travel information.
