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Local Italy
16-07-2025
- Business
- Local Italy
Italy vows crackdown on airlines flouting new rules on ID checks
New rules removing ID checks for passengers flying on domestic or Schengen-area flights were introduced last week as part of plans to speed up boarding procedures and reduce waiting times at Italian airports. The new policy ended the requirement for people flying across Italy, or from Italy to another Schengen-area country, to show their passports or ID cards at the boarding gate. The border-free Schengen area includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as the four members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. ID checks remained in place for all flights headed to non-Schengen countries, including the US, Canada and the UK. Though Italy's civil aviation authority (ENAC) said the new rules were 'effective immediately', passengers at multiple Italian airports have reportedly continued to face ID checks before boarding domestic or Schengen flights this week. Reports of non-compliance at Italian airports have been met with anger by ENAC, with the authority vowing to crack down on airlines and boarding operators flouting the rules. 'This is an ENAC directive; companies don't get to decide what to do,' the authority's president, Pierluigi Di Palma, told Il Corriere della Sera. Di Palma said that ENAC would conduct 'inspections' at airports around the country to ensure that carriers and boarding staff abide by the new rules. "Those who fail to comply will be punished for disregarding the authority's orders,' he added, without specifying the exact nature of the sanctions. ENAC's decision to remove ID checks on domestic and Schengen flights has drawn harsh criticism from Italian consumer groups in recent days. Codacons said it was 'completely astonished' by the new rules, voicing concerns that they may 'allow passengers to use other people's boarding passes or board a plane while concealing their true identity." Another Italian consumer group, Assoutenti, also expressed doubts over the new ID policy, citing 'an international context marked by growing concerns over security and the management of migration flows'. 'It is essential to ensure that the new practices do not compromise citizens' safety,' it added. Despite criticism from consumer associations, Di Palma has defended the new rules, stressing that they will in no way affect airport security. Air travel is a 'hyper-secure system' relying on 'safety 'filters', both visible and invisible,' he said. ENAC's chief also noted that 'nothing will change in terms of security checks', with passengers still required to go through the existing screening procedures to enter the airport's boarding area.
Local Italy
11-07-2025
- Local Italy
Italy scraps passenger ID checks for Schengen flights
Under the new rules, passengers travelling across Italy, or from Italy to another Schengen-area nation will only be asked to show their boarding passes at the gate, ENAC said on Thursday. The border-free Schengen area includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as all four members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. ID checks are set to remain in place for all flights headed to non-Schengen countries, including the US, Canada and the UK. Passengers flying to Italy from abroad will also continue to be subject to the ID requirements enforced by the relevant country of departure. The new rules have already been approved by Italy's interior ministry and are effective immediately, ENAC said. Law enforcement authorities have the power to reintroduce ID checks on routes that are considered to be "sensitive to illegal immigration", the aviation authority added. ENAC president Pierluigi Di Palma told Il Corriere della Sera on Thursday that the decision to end ID checks on both domestic and Schengen flights was intended to speed up boarding procedures. "There's a lot of time wasted on bureaucracy. By removing this requirement, boarding will be faster,' he said. "Airports are secure places, and it's time to treat air travel the same as train travel." Di Palma also warned that the new rules didn't mean passengers should leave their passports or ID cards at home. Police at Italian airports will conduct random checks, and passengers found without valid ID will be 'prevented from boarding' their flights, he said. ENAC's decision to remove ID checks on domestic and Schengen flights was met with criticism by Italian consumer groups. Codacons said it was 'completely astonished' by the new rules, voicing concerns that they may 'allow passengers to use other people's boarding passes or board a plane while concealing their true identity." "We agree with ENAC on the need to streamline and simplify all boarding procedures, but the safety of air transport must come before the speed of airport operations," it added. Another Italian consumer group, Assoutenti, said it had requested "an urgent meeting' with ENAC to ensure that the new system 'doesn't compromise citizens' safety'. The absence of ID checks for passengers travelling on Schengen routes has long been in place in other EU member states, including Germany and Croatia. The new rules came as part of broader plans to speed up security checks and boarding procedures at Italian airports. Last year, Milan Linate and Catania Fontanarossa both launched a new technology known as 'Faceboarding' – a facial recognition software that allows passengers to pass through security and gate checks using only their faces.
Qatar Tribune
10-07-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Italy OKs domestic, Schengen flights with just boarding card, no ID
Rome A boarding pass will now suffice at Italian airports for boarding domestic flights and those within Europe's Schengen visa-free travel area. There is no longer a need to show ID at the gate for these flights, after the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) changed the rules. This new procedure was introduced by ENAC and approved by the Ministry of the Interior, the daily newspaper Corriere della Sera reported on Thursday. Anyone entering the security area of an airport has already passed the usual security checks, such as metal detectors or security gates. So, anyone flying from Italy to Germany or Spain, for example, can now skip reaching for their ID at the gate. Despite the relaxation, Di Palma advises caution: Passports or identity cards should not be left at home, as anyone without a document during a check will not be allowed on board. (dpa)
New York Post
10-06-2025
- New York Post
Vacation hotspot ripped over ‘ridiculous' new policy on pets in plane cabins: ‘Garbage idea'
People didn't like the idea of sitting next to a massive air bud. Italian air officials have caused uproar among pet parents over a 'ridiculous' new policy that allows medium and large-sized canines to fly with their owners. Under the new guidelines, approved last month by the nation's civil aviation authority ENAC, pets whose weight exceeds 22 pounds will be allowed to travel in the cabin if the airline permits it. Previously, canines of this size were relegated to flying in the cargo hold. 3 Italy's new resolution on traveling with pets stipulates that they must arrive in 'approved carriers' and strapped into a seat, rather than on the ground below. Viktoriya – The resolution stipulated that the pets must be placed in 'approved carriers' that can even be placed on seats, provided they're belted in or otherwise anchored and only if they don't obstruct emergency exits or crew operations. ENAC president Pierluigi Di Palma declared the goal of the policy was to ensure the animals' 'well-being' and make it 'easier for a greater number of passengers to transport their pets by air.' Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy prime minister and transport minister, expressed his support for the new rule on Instagram, writing, 'From now on, dog and cat owners will have less difficulty flying with their four-legged friends. Promise kept!' While the pet-friendly measure received oodles of support from animal-lovers, many frequent flyers appeared less enthused about the idea of sharing their air space with plus-size pooches. 3 The pets' carriers can be placed on the seat provided that they're belted or otherwise anchored to it. New Africa – 'Yea no … I don't want to sit next to a dog on my flight,' griped one naysayer on Instagram. 'Nor do I want to be covered in dog hair, and are they removing the dog hair from its seat before the next person sits down.' Another wrote, 'Stupid really. Imagine a plane in distress, the pets will all go off. Seriously, what a garbage idea, no safety involved.' Others pointed out that the policy would be problematic for people with canine phobias and pet dander allergies. 'This is really hard for people who have a fear of dogs, I mean, they're basically trapped,' observed one critic. 'The idea sounds great for dog owners, but has downsides too.' 'This is ridiculous. It does not take into consideration people with phobias and allergies,' complained one detractor. 'Not everyone keeps their animals as clean as they should, either.' They added, 'Guess who is going to get sued if a dog attacks another passenger? I love dogs, but this is going to bite the airlines and some passengers in the bum. Yes, pun intended!!' 3 Proponents of the new policy argue that pets in seats is 'how it should have always been.' Volha Krayeva – However, some fur fans were on board with the rule change, with one supporter gushing, 'This is how it should have always been, end of story, pets are family, not just animals.' 'An airline that allows me to bring my dog will have my business for life,' declared another. In the US, the size limitations for carry-on pets are at the discretion of the airlines. For instance, United Airlines doesn't have a weight limit but requires that they fly in a kennel that can fit under the seat in front of the owner. However, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to allow travelers to fly with their service animals in the cabin on all U.S. airlines. There is no limit to the number of these specialist canines that can be on each flight and they don't need to be transported in a container. Some flyers have been accused of taking advantage of this rule by pawning off normal pets as service animals. Last month, San Francisco fashion influencer Piêtra Luccas was excoriated online for bringing her 'service' Great Dane on a United Airlines flight.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Italy blasted for 'ridiculous' new cabin rule on planes as passengers ask 'how is this okay?'
Italy has made a major rule change that's set to make air travel much more pet-friendly. Large dogs - once confined to the plane's hold - will now be allowed to travel in the cabin alongside their owners. Before the rule was introduced pets that weighed over 8-10kg had to be transported in the hold. Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC said in a press release that the new rules would make it easier for a 'greater number of passengers to transport their pets by air'. Matteo Salvini, transport minister and deputy PM, posted on social media: 'From now on dog and cat owners will have less difficulty flying with their four-legged friends. Promise kept!' But while the news was celebrated by some holidaymakers, others were much less impressed by the new rule. Posting on Instagram, one person said: 'I don't want to sit on a seat where a dirty dog was.' Another said: 'Stupid really. Imagine a plane in distress, the pets will all go off. Seriously what a garbage idea, no safety involved.' A third blasted: 'This is ridiculous. It does not take into consideration ideation people with phobias and allergies. 'Not everyone keeps their animals as clean as they should either. Guess who is going to get sued if a dog attacks another passenger? 'I love dogs but this is going to bite the airlines and some passengers in the bum. Yes pun intended!' Someone else agreed: 'The dog can sit next to its owner but what if the person next to the owner is allergic or is afraid - how is this ok?' But, while the rule change might sound attractive to animal owners, there are a few catches to the policy. Airlines in Italy aren't required to change their policies to reflect the new rules. Many still only allow service animals to fly in the cabin. Animals are also required to be 'placed in approved carriers' which can be put on seats, providing they don't 'obstruct emergency exits or crew operations'. The containers need to be secured with belts or 'specific anchoring systems'. As the carriers need to be placed on the aircraft's seats, it might rule out any large dog owners from taking advantage of the policy. It comes after British Airways banned cabin crew from posting on social media from their layover hotels, in a new policy. Staff have also been asked to remove any existing photos taken at layover hotels from their social media accounts
