Thousands of Travelers Grounded in Italy as ITA Airways, Wizz Air Malta, easyJet, Air France, Vueling and other Airlines Cancel 69 and Delay 400 Flights across Rome, Naples, Florence and more, New Update

Written By: Subhankar Chakraborty

Subhankar Chakraborty

I'm a content writer with a strong foundation in psychology and a passion for the travel and hospitality industry. Beyond timely reporting and contemporary narratives I bring a unique perspective to content creation, crafting stories that not only inform but also connect with readers on a deeper emotional level. I combine meticulous research, accuracy and compelling storytelling to deliver authentic, engaging and insightful content for a global audience.

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December 18, 2025 2:14 AM

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Flight disruptions are currently sweeping through Italy, leaving thousands of passengers searching for answers. Major hubs in Rome, Naples and Milan are facing a wave of operational challenges today. These setbacks have forced ITA Airways and Wizz Air Malta to adjust their schedules rapidly. Meanwhile, travelers in Florence and Catania are encountering unexpected gate changes and long wait times. Airlines like easyJet, Air France and Vueling Airlines are struggling to maintain their departures amidst these logistical hurdles. Consequently, the ripple effect is felt across the entire Mediterranean aviation network. This report provides a detailed breakdown of the current situation. We examine the specific numbers behind the delays and cancellations. Furthermore, we outline how these events impact your travel plans across the Italian peninsula.

Major Airports Affected

The scale of the disruption is most evident at Italy’s flagship gateway, the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino International Airport in Rome. As the primary hub for the country, Fiumicino has recorded the highest volume of incidents, with 40 total cancellations and 180 delays reported. This hub, which serves as a critical link for transcontinental travel, is currently seeing significant backlogs in its departure halls.

Further north, Milan is experiencing its own share of the crisis. At Malpensa International Airport, while only 3 flights have been officially cancelled, the facility is grappling with 124 delays, representing one of the highest delay-to-flight ratios in the region. This has left the departure lounges of Milan crowded with passengers waiting for updated slot times.

In the southern region, Naples International Airport, also known as Capodichino, has seen 11 cancellations and 44 delays, hampering travel to and from the Campania region. Similarly, in Sicily, the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport has been forced to scrap 4 flights while managing 33 delays, a significant blow to the island’s connectivity. Central Italy has not been spared either; the Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence reported 11 cancellations and 19 delays, effectively stalling travel for those moving through the heart of Tuscany.

Impacted Airlines

The current wave of disruptions has affected a broad spectrum of carriers, ranging from low-cost leaders to national flag carriers. The following airlines have reported the most significant operational challenges across Italy:

• Wizz Air Malta: This carrier is currently facing the highest volume of cancellations, particularly at Rome (Fiumicino), where 13 flights were grounded. It also faces significant pressure in Catania with further cancellations and a combined total of over 36 delays across the country.
• easyJet: Known for its extensive Mediterranean network, the airline is struggling with massive delays today. It has recorded 37 delays in Milan (Malpensa) and 25 in Naples, alongside 8 total cancellations across several Italian hubs.
• ITA Airways: Italy’s flagship carrier has been impacted primarily at its central hub in Rome. The airline currently reports 25 flight delays and a cancellation, complicating domestic connectivity for local travelers.
• Air France: The French national carrier has seen its schedule tightened with 4 cancellations and 4 delays in Rome, as well as an additional 4 cancellations in Florence.
• Vueling Airlines: This Spanish low-cost carrier has focused its disruptions in central Italy, reporting 4 cancellations in Rome and 2 in Florence without any significant delays noted in those specific regions.
• Iberia: The airline has faced a challenging day in both Rome and Naples, accumulating 8 cancellations and 3 delays.
• British Airways: International transit has been hampered by 5 total cancellations from this carrier, affecting passengers in both the Rome and Milan sectors.
• KLM: The Dutch carrier has reported 5 cancellations today, split between Rome and Florence, though it has notably avoided the high delay counts seen by its competitors.
• Lufthansa: The German airline is experiencing minor but impactful disruptions, with 2 cancellations and 4 delays spread across the airports in Rome and Naples.
• Swiss International Air Lines: Operational shifts have led to 2 cancellations specifically impacting the Rome flight schedule today.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The concentration of these flight disruptions in Rome, Naples, Florence, Catania and Milan is expected to have a noticeable impact on local tourism sectors. These five cities represent the pillars of the Italian tourism economy and the grounding of thousands of passengers often results in immediate losses for the hospitality industry.

In Rome and Florence, where the “art cities” tourism model relies on precise scheduling for museum entries and guided tours, many travelers may miss non-refundable bookings. The delays in Milan could affect business travel and high-end retail tourism, while the disruptions in Catania and Naples risk dampening the holiday experience for those visiting the coastal regions of the south. When aviation schedules in Italy become this fragmented, the local economy often sees a temporary dip in spending as travelers are forced to redirect their budgets toward emergency accommodation or alternative transport rather than leisure activities.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For travelers currently caught in the midst of these cancellations and delays across Italy, immediate action is advised to mitigate further inconvenience. Passengers are encouraged to monitor their flight status via airline mobile applications before heading to the terminals in Rome, Naples or Milan.

• Check Guaranteed Flights: In the event of industrial action or widespread disruption, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) often publishes a list of “guaranteed flights” that are legally required to operate during specific time windows.
• Seek Rebooking or Refunds: Under European passenger rights regulations, airlines are typically required to offer a choice between a full refund or re-routing at the earliest opportunity when a flight is cancelled.
• Document Expenses: For those experiencing significant delays in Florence or Catania, it is important to keep receipts for necessary expenses, such as meals and refreshments, as these may be eligible for reimbursement by the carrier.
• Contact Travel Insurance: Passengers are advised to review their travel insurance policies to see if “travel delay” or “missed departure” clauses can be triggered to cover costs that the airline may not be liable for.

As the situation continues to evolve, the primary focus for airport authorities in Italy remains the safe and efficient processing of the backlog. Travelers are urged to remain patient and stay informed through official airline channels as the industry works to restore normalcy across the nation’s airspace.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.