09-07-2025
Major flight disruption for next two days may cost each passenger £660
Major flight disruption for next two days may cost each passenger £660
Experts have explained why you may not get compensation as staff walk out on strikes at major airports
Pilots and cabin crews at easyJet are set to strike as are baggage handlers at Milan and Venice as well as at other airports across Italy
With airport strikes hitting Italy and Spain on July 10 and 11, UK travellers are facing last-minute cancellations, reroutes, and out-of-pocket losses. Finance experts at Dot Dot Loans have analysed the true cost of the back-to-back aviation strikes and found that UK passengers could lose up to £660 per person due to unrecoverable expenses like missed bookings, emergency rebookings, and limited compensation eligibility.
This week's action affects ground-handling staff at all major Spanish and Italian airports, while easyJet's Italy-based cabin crew will also walk out on 10 July, causing extra disruption on key summer routes. While many passengers assume their travel insurance or EU261 will protect them, the reality is far more limited.
Airlines have only a 'basic duty-of-care support' if you flight os cancelled or delayed because of strikes, meaning you may have to pay:
Flight rebooking (when not covered): £180-£400 per person (based on average UK-Spain & Italy summer fares)
Accommodation (extra night if stranded): £120-£180 per night
Meals and incidentals: £25-£60 per day
Missed prepaid activities/transfers: £50-£100 per person
Total: £225-£660
Dot Dot Loans estimates passengers will bear 30–40% of the total direct impact in these strikes, a higher share than seen in pilot or airline staff strikes, where compensation is due.
There experts say there will be no EU 261 compensation as the strikes are classified as 'extraordinary circumstances' outside airline control. Airlines must provide: meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation (if overnight), and two free communications during the delay.
Article continues below
If a flight is cancelled or delayed over five hours, passengers can claim a full refund or be rerouted at the earliest opportunity.
Paul Gillooly, Finance Expert & Director at Dot Dot Loans said: 'Most people think the cost of travel is locked in once the flight is booked, but the reality is that airport strikes like these can unravel even the most carefully planned holiday budgets. What's particularly challenging this week is that UK passengers are facing two simultaneous strike events at the height of the summer season, when prices are already inflated.
"The financial exposure here isn't just about missed flights; it's about the ripple effect: last-minute hotel bookings, inflated rebooking fares, lost deposits, and the extra costs of meals and ground transport. These expenses add up fast, and most aren't protected unless you've paid for premium insurance or your airline voluntarily covers the loss.
"From a financial standpoint, travellers need to treat strike risk as part of the cost of flying in summer. That means building contingency funds into your holiday budget, knowing your refund rights, and avoiding non-refundable add-ons where possible. Planning isn't just about where you're going, it's about making sure you're financially protected if things go off course.'
Italy-based pilots and cabin crews at budget airline easyJet are set to strike for 24 hours on Thursday, with baggage handlers at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Venice Marco Polo, as well as at other airports across Italy, planning to stage a 24-hour strike on the same day. Action by ground airport workers is also expected at Cagliari Elmas and Naples Capodichino.
The strikes are likely to cause flight delays or cancellations, as well as delays in ground operations including passenger check-in and baggage drop-off or collection services. Under Italian air transport laws, flights scheduled to depart between 6am and 9am and between 6pm and 9pm are protected from strike action and should run as planned on Thursday.
However, on Friday a 24-hour staff strike has also been called at Palermo airport. Passengers flying to or from the Sicilian capital may experience delays or cancellations oas staff at Gesap, which manages aviation services at the city's Falcone Borsellino Airport, plan to hold a 24-hour walkout.
The Flai Transport and Services union has also called a strike that will affect the staff of the Assohandlers member handling companies, which includes airport handling staff operating at Linate, Malpensa, Turin, Verona, Bologna, Ciampino, Fiumicino, Palermo, Catania, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Crotone, Cuneo, Naples, Salerno, Venice, Bergamo, Sagat, and Cagliari.
Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialists SkyRefund, said: 'While compensation may not be payable for delays caused by strikes involving airport staff or air traffic control — as these are generally considered 'extraordinary circumstances' — passengers flying with easyJet or other EU carriers may still have rights to re-routing, meals, accommodation, and transport while they wait. It's also worth noting that flights scheduled during protected hours in Italy (6am–9am and 6pm–9pm) should operate as planned, and any disruption outside of these time frames should still be monitored closely. Travellers should check with their airline and retain receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses they incur due to disruption.
Article continues below
"With regard to the strike by easyJet's pilots and cabin crew, passengers may be entitled to compensation of €250–€600, depending on flight distance, unless easyJet can prove that it took all reasonable measures to avoid the disruption. The European Court of Justice has previously ruled that strikes by airline staff are not automatically considered extraordinary, so each case must be assessed individually.'
