But just at this time, major disruptions to air and rail travel are looming in France and Italy.
Flight Cancellations to and from Sicily
According to the travel portal reisereporter.de, flight crews of the budget airline EasyJet will go on strike on Saturday, September 6. All connections to and from Catania in Sicily will be affected. The strike is expected to last 24 hours.
On the same day, employees of Swissport Italia will strike at Milan-Linate Airport. Additional walkouts are planned for September 14 at both Milan-Linate and Milan-Malpensa airports. Finally, on September 26, the union has called for a nationwide strike across the aviation sector. The extent of disruptions remains unclear.
Train Traffic in Italy Coming to a Standstill
Even more severe consequences are expected in rail transport. From Thursday, September 4 at 9:00 p.m. until Friday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m., three rail companies will completely halt operations, effectively bringing train travel across Italy to a standstill. In addition, on September 15, Trenitalia Intercity staff in Calabria are scheduled to strike.
General Strike Planned in France
On September 10, French trade unions plan to stage a nationwide general strike in protest against government austerity measures. Planes, trains, and public transport will all be affected. Under the slogan “Bloquons tout” (“Block everything”), the action could extend into the following days. According to the ADAC, public sector employees may also walk off the job. In that case, tourists would need to prepare for closures of attractions, gas stations, shops, and toll booths.
Road Blockades and Air Traffic Disruptions
Since truck drivers are also expected to join the strike, experts are warning of road blockades, especially at major transport hubs in and around Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. The situation will be further complicated by a nationwide strike of air traffic controllers scheduled for September 18 and 19.
ADAC Recommendation
The ADAC advises all travelers to carefully follow the instructions of their tour operators and consider postponing planned trips. A spokesperson said: “If flights are grounded or trains and long-distance buses are canceled due to strikes, travelers may in some cases be entitled to compensation.”
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