Everything from flights to trains is at a standstill… Emergency-like situation in Meloni's Italy, passengers facing a lot of trouble

Rome, 11 April 2025: The travel system in Italy has completely collapsed at this time, and an emergency-like situation has arisen in the country. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni's government is now faced with a new challenge, as widespread disruptions in air and rail services (Flight Disruptions Italy) and train cancellations (Train Cancellations Italy) have brought the country to a standstill. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled in the last 48 hours, and train services have also been affected, causing a lot of trouble to passengers during the Easter Holiday Chaos.

What is the situation?

The air and rail strikes (Strikes in Italy) that began in Italy on 9 April 2025 have created chaos across the country. The strike, called by organisations such as the Italian Federation of Transport Workers, the Italian General Confederation of Labour, and the Italian Union of Transport, has severely affected national and international flights. Notably, hundreds of flights at Rome's Fiumicino and Milan's Linate airports are cancelled or delayed.

During the strike, only emergency services such as medical, search and rescue, humanitarian aid, and military flights are being operated. Commercial flights are completely affected, causing great inconvenience to passengers travelling to Europe and other places. easyJet and other airlines issued statements saying they are providing alternatives by contacting customers directly, but the situation is still out of control.

Talking about train services, services of major operators such as Trenitalia and Italo were also disrupted due to the strikes on March 18-19 and April 9. Long-distance and regional train services saw widespread cancellations and delays, although some services were ensured during the morning and evening rush hours.

Meloni Government's response

Prime Minister Giordano Meloni's government is taking immediate action to deal with the situation. "We are taking this crisis seriously and are in talks with labour unions. Our goal is to ensure passenger safety and normalise travel facilities as soon as possible," Meloni said in a press conference. However, opposition parties and trade unions have accused the government of ignoring workers' demands, leading to this situation.

Prioritising safety and emergency services, the government has put the police and civil defence force on alert. Despite this, many passengers are stranded at airports and stations, and #ItalyEmergency and #FlightDisruptions are trending on social media. Many users criticised the Meloni government, saying the situation is the result of "chaos" and "disorganised administration".

Impact on passengers

Tourists and local travellers visiting Italy during the Easter holidays have suffered the most. Long queues and flight cancellations at airports in major cities such as Rome, Milan, Naples, and Venice have caused problems. Delays and cancellations in train services have also forced people to look for alternative transport, but road transport has also become overloaded.

John Smith, a British tourist, said, "We came to Rome to celebrate Easter, but our flight got cancelled. Hotel bookings are also in danger now, and we are not getting any clear information." Similarly, local resident Maria Rossi said, "Train cancellations have made it difficult to reach office. The government must do something immediately."

International response

The European Union (EU) has expressed concern over the situation and has demanded immediate solutions for passengers from the Meloni government. Airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair have advised customers to check flight status regularly and make alternative arrangements. UNWTO has also expressed concern over the loss of tourism in Italy.

Conclusion

The suspension of flight and train services in Italy is not only causing a severe blow to the local economy but also to the tourism industry. This is a testing time for the Meloni government, as it will have to strike a balance between labor strikes and the safety of passengers. In the coming days, it will become more clear whether the government is able to handle this crisis or the emergency deepens further.