First things first: neither strike means airports will close, and airlines have not announced widespread cancellations. But Italy is heading into the Halloween and All Saints’ holiday weekend, and Spain remains a popular destination at this time of year, so it is worth checking your plans now, leaving extra time, and having a back-up plan in place.

What to do now

• Check your flight status with your airline before you leave for the airport, and keep checking its app for updates.
• Don’t cancel your trip yourself unless your airline tells you to. If you cancel before the airline does, you may lose your passenger rights.
• Allow extra time for airport transfers, queues and connections, especially in cities where marches or reduced public transport are possible.
• Confirm any pre-booked transfers and, if you are travelling by train, check the latest timetables on the day.

Preparing for disruption

• If you have an early flight, consider staying nearby with an airport hotel with parking
• Make sure you’re covered if plans change with Holiday Extras travel insurance, and check your policy wording on strikes and missed connections
• Keep flexibility in your extras with Flextras if your journey needs to change

Known disruption to watch

1) Italy: general strike on Friday 30th October

The USB union has called a nationwide general strike across public and private sectors on Friday 30th October 2026, the day before the Halloween and All Saints’ holiday weekend. The notice covers air transport all day (midnight to 11.59pm), rail from 9pm on Thursday 29th October to 8.59pm on Friday 30th October, and taxis all day. Local public transport stoppages are set at a regional level, so timings will vary by city.

Whether transport workers can take part is contested. The period from 30th October to 5th November is normally protected from transport strikes in Italy, and the strike authority asked USB to exclude transport. USB has said transport workers remain included. A second union, USI-CIT, has called its own general strike on the same day but has exempted air, rail, local public transport and maritime services. A strike notice does not mean every train or flight will be cancelled, and the real impact may only become clear closer to the day.

Guaranteed services: under Italian rules, flights are normally protected from 7am to 10am and 6pm to 9pm. Regional trains are guaranteed from 6am to 9am and 6pm to 9pm, but only designated services are covered.

Airports: a separate 24-hour ground handling strike has been registered at Pisa and Florence airports on the same day, and Naples Airport has warned that delays or cancellations are possible. The day before, ground staff at Bologna Airport are due to strike from 12pm to 4pm on Thursday 29th October, with some Trenitalia staff in Emilia-Romagna also taking action.

Separate from the strike: a truckers’ protest over diesel prices has been affecting southern Italy since 16th October. Bus services have been reduced around Naples and Sorrento, ferries to Ischia and Procida have been flagged as at risk, and Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports were reported to be short of aircraft fuel, although scheduled flights were not expected to be affected. Further Italian strikes are listed for November, including air traffic control stoppages on 6th November and 21st to 22nd November, and a national rail strike on 20th to 21st November.

We recommend you should

• Check your flight and train status on Thursday evening and again on Friday morning before you set off.
• Try to travel in the protected windows if you have any flexibility, as these services are most likely to run.
• Pre-book taxis for airport and port journeys rather than relying on being able to hail one, as taxis are included in the strike notice.
• If you are staying in the south or on the islands, don’t assume buses and ferries will run, and check operators’ notices each morning.
• If you have hired a car in the south, fill up the tank whenever you can, as some petrol stations have been short of fuel.

2) Spain: general strike on Wednesday 11th November

Spain’s two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, have called a 24-hour general strike for Wednesday 11th November 2026. Other unions have joined them, and the action is backed by the tenants’ union Sindicato de Inquilinas. The unions are calling for higher pay, shorter working hours, better job security and action on housing costs. It is reported to be the first joint general strike by the two federations since 2012.

This is not a transport strike as such, but staff in aviation, rail and public transport may choose to take part. Airport ground handling, baggage services, Renfe trains, metros and local buses are considered the most exposed. Airports are not expected to close, and airlines have not published lists of cancelled flights.

Minimum services have not yet been confirmed. In Spain, the government sets minimum services for essential public transport ahead of a strike, and these decide how many trains and flights actually run. The employers’ federation CEOE has been considering whether to challenge the strike’s legality, so details could still change.

On the ground: demonstrations are possible in Madrid and Barcelona, and marches could slow the roads used by airport buses and taxis. Some museums and attractions may also close or shorten their opening hours.

We recommend you should

• Check your airline’s app and make sure it has your current contact details so you receive any updates.
• If your plans are flexible, consider moving rail journeys or tight connections to Tuesday 10th or Thursday 12th November.
• Look out for the minimum services announcement for Renfe, metros and buses, and plan your airport transfer around it.
• Allow plenty of extra time for any road journey to or from the airport in Madrid and Barcelona.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled

• Contact your airline first: they are responsible for rerouting, refunds, and care.
• Know your rights: if a flight is cancelled you are entitled to a refund or rerouting, plus meals and accommodation where needed, under UK and EU passenger rights rules.
• Cash compensation is not guaranteed: strikes by airport or air traffic control staff are usually treated as outside the airline’s control, whereas a strike by the airline’s own staff can attract compensation.
• Keep receipts for food, transport, or accommodation if advised by your airline.
• Check your insurance: cover for strikes often depends on when the policy was bought, as strikes announced before purchase may be excluded.
• Separate tickets: if you booked legs independently, missed connections are not protected.

Changing plans with Holiday Extras

If your travel plans change, you can amend or cancel your Holiday Extras booking online. Customers with Flextras can usually cancel for a voucher and rebook once new travel details are confirmed.

• Use our online amends system to change or cancel bookings.
• For travel insurance queries, email [email protected].

Customers already abroad

Our support teams are fully briefed. Live Chat is the fastest way to reach us.

More information

• Italy: Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport strike calendar
• Spain: Renfe train information
• Spain: Aena airport information
• UK Foreign Office: travel advice for Italy
• UK Foreign Office: travel advice for Spain