EasyJet pilots based in Italy are set to strike later this month, according to a warning from the Italian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
The industrial action is scheduled for Sunday October 27, and will impact flights to popular holiday destinations such as Milan, Naples, and Venice.
, these locations are particularly favoured by Scots seeking a respite from the colder weather and darker evenings that come with the clocks going back.
The strike is planned to occur between 1pm and 5pm local time on the aforementioned date.
However, passengers have been advised to anticipate broader issues with easyJet flights on that day due to a potential "domino" effect.
This could result in other easyJet services from Edinburgh Airport experiencing delays and cancellations over the weekend, as the airline's resources may be stretched thin.
Travellers planning to fly to these destinations or via easyJet in general have been warned about possible disruptions to their travel plans. Consumer advocacy organisation AirAdvisor has explained that passengers affected by the strike, which is within the airline's control, could be entitled to up to £520 in compensation, reports the Daily Record.
The timing of the strikes coincides with various UK half-term breaks. For instance, Edinburgh schools have their half term from Monday 14 to Monday 21 October 2024, while many English schools start their break on 28 October.
An easyJet representative said in a statement: "EasyJet has been advised of strike action by UIL Trasporti, which represents some of its pilots based in Italy for four hours on 27 October between 13 and 17 local time, at its bases in Milan, Naples and Venice."
"We are committed to working constructively with our employee representatives in Italy and urge UIL to call off the action and come back to a constructive dialogue. We would like to reassure customers that we will do everything possible to minimise any disruption."
Previously, in August, about one-sixth of easyJet's scheduled flights were cancelled totalling 232 flights to and from Portugal due to a three-day cabin crew strike.
Anton Radchenko of AirAdvisor, a firm that aids passengers in claiming compensation for travel disruptions, shared his insights: "It's also entirely possible that easyJet services in other destinations will be affected by these strikes, so keep a close eye on their website approaching the weekend if you're set to travel.
"This can happen when delays to flights causes a kind of domino effect, where other flights end up missing their departure slot and are forced to take off later than planned."
