Flight Disruption Hits Florence and Pisa as Italy Cuts Air Traffic Capacity by 50%

Passengers travelling through Florence and Pisa airports faced cancellations and delays of several hours on Friday October 16, 2026, after a nationwide technical failure forced Italian aviation authorities to reduce air traffic capacity by approximately 50%.

The disruption began early in the morning and affected airports across Italy. ENAV, the company responsible for managing Italian air traffic, reported problems with the data transmission network supporting air traffic control services.

The restrictions were introduced at 6 a.m., with many aircraft unable to depart as scheduled. Although the situation gradually improved later in the morning, flight operations remained disrupted.

Delays of up to five hours at Florence and Pisa airports

The disruption also affected Tuscany’s two main airports, Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci and Pisa’s Galileo Galilei, both managed by Toscana Aeroporti.

According to Corriere Fiorentino, the airport operator confirmed delays exceeding two hours at both airports, with several cancellations and some flights facing considerably longer waits.

At Florence Airport, departure information recorded at around 10.30 a.m. showed that a Vueling flight to Barcelona, originally scheduled for 9 a.m., had been postponed until 12.30 p.m. A Volotea service to Bordeaux was also delayed by more than three hours.

The situation was particularly difficult for some passengers at Pisa Airport. An easyJet flight to London Luton, scheduled to depart at 9.55 a.m., was rescheduled for 3.15 p.m., a delay of five hours and 20 minutes. Other services to Paris, Kraków and Copenhagen also faced substantial delays.

Among the cancellations reported in the morning was an Air Dolomiti flight from Pisa to Frankfurt.

Flight schedules remained subject to change as the authorities worked to restore normal operations.

ENAV rules out sabotage or cyberattack

ENAV explained that the technical problems were detected overnight in the nationwide data network used to support air traffic control.

Emergency backup systems initially allowed flights to operate normally until 6 a.m. However, as air traffic increased and the problems persisted, the company introduced restrictions on the number of aircraft that could be managed simultaneously.

ENAV said the measures were necessary to maintain flight safety. Alternative transmission systems, including satellite-based infrastructure, enabled controllers to continue managing flights while technicians investigated the fault.

The company also ruled out malicious activity, including hacking or sabotage.

By late morning, ENAV reported a gradual improvement and said it had maintained as many departures as possible, including intercontinental services. Technical investigations were continuing to establish the underlying cause and restore full operational capacity.

EasyJet strike adds to disruption

Friday’s difficulties coincided with a separate 24-hour national strike involving easyJet pilots and cabin crew, creating additional uncertainty for passengers travelling with the airline.

The industrial action, called by the USB Lavoro Privato union, runs throughout 16 October and may result in further cancellations or changes to flight schedules.

Under Italian aviation regulations, flights scheduled during protected strike periods must normally operate. These periods run from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

However, the protection provided during a strike does not prevent delays caused by unrelated technical problems affecting air traffic control.

What passengers should do

Passengers travelling through Florence, Pisa or other Italian airports on Friday are advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before leaving for the airport.

Real-time departure and arrival information for both Tuscan airports is available through the Tuscany regional government’s flight information page.

Travellers affected by cancellations may be entitled to a refund or alternative transport under European Union passenger rights regulations. Airlines must also provide assistance in qualifying circumstances, while eligibility for financial compensation depends on the cause of the disruption.

Information about protected flights during Friday’s easyJet strike is available on the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) website.

Passengers should continue monitoring airline announcements throughout the day, as delays and cancellations may persist even after the technical network problems have been resolved.

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