Transport strike causes havoc at Fiumicino

 

Rome - More than 200 flights were cancelled at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Friday, due to strikes called by transport unions.

 

The strike was called by the Uiltraspori and ANPAV unions following what they have described as “unsatisfactory” responses from the Italian airline Alitalia, with regards to social security for staff and the operating of flights, following the company’s merger with Abu Dhabi heavyweight Etihad Airways.

 

“Several days and nights of hard negotiations have produced some small steps forward that our union does NOT consider sufficient to seal a deal, including the lifting of the strike,” said ANPAV in a statement.

 

Around 80 Alitalia flights were cancelled as a result of the strike, which lasted from 10am to 6pm on Friday and saw the company’s pilots and flight attendants walk out. However over 120 other flights from airlines including BA, KLM and Easyjet were also affected after many of Fiumicino’s transport officials went on strike in support of their colleagues.