Italy flights cancelled: Enav air traffic control fault halves capacity at Italian airports

Flights across Italy were delayed and cancelled on Friday 16 October after a fault in Enav's air traffic control data network cut the country's airspace capacity by half. Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa and Linate, Naples, Bari and Turin were among the airports hit.

Delays and Italy flights cancelled continued all morning at many airports, and the cause lies in a technical fault.

Enav fault: what happened to Italian air traffic control

It all began overnight between Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October, when Enav detected faults on the nationwide data transmission network that links its air traffic control services. With few aircraft in the air, backup systems coped without any visible impact.

That changed as morning traffic built up. From 6:00, with the fault still active, Enav cut the number of aircraft allowed into Italian airspace. Controllers switched to a secondary satellite network: safe, but unable to handle all the traffic. By mid-morning, capacity was around 50%, with priority given to intercontinental flights.

Enav says its own equipment worked normally throughout, and that the problem lies in the data network, managed by TIM, which is working with Enav to find the cause. Enav has ruled out a cyber attack or sabotage.

No time has been given for a full recovery, but even once the fault is fixed, more flights to Italy are likely to be cancelled this evening and possibly over the weekend.

Can you claim compensation?

Normally, if your flight is cancelled at short notice or you arrive 3 or more hours late, EU261 flight cancelled compensation is €250 to €600 per passenger. The exception is "extraordinary circumstances": events outside the airline's control.

An air traffic control failure very likely falls into this category. The Enav fault wasn't caused by any airline and none could have prevented it, so cash compensation for flights it delayed or cancelled is unlikely.

Your other rights still apply in full. Your airline must offer a refund or an alternative flight, plus meals, drinks and, if you're stranded overnight, a hotel and transfers. If it didn't, you can claim back what you paid yourself.

Before giving up on compensation, though, check the reason for the delay or cancellation. If your flight was cancelled or delayed for a different reason, such as a technical problem with the aircraft or a crew shortage, you may still be owed compensation.

Flying easyJet?

easyJet’s crew in Italy also held a 24-hour strike on 16 October. Unlike the Enav fault, an airline's own staff strike can qualify for easyJet compensation, as long as you were told about the cancellation less than 14 days before departure.

Check your flight

Flight cancelled: what to do

1. Check before you leave: Italian airports, including Aeroporti di Roma, are asking everyone to confirm their flight status with their airline.
2. Ask for the reason: if your flight is cancelled or badly delayed, get the cause in writing or take a screenshot of the app: it decides whether you can claim.
3. Choose between a refund and an alternative flight: you're entitled to either, whatever the cause.
4. Keep all your receipts: if the airline doesn't provide meals or a hotel, you can claim back what you spent.
5. Get your flight checked: especially if you've had other flights cancelled or delayed in the last six years.

With Flight Delayed UK Premium, if your flight is delayed by an hour or more you can wait in one of 1,500+ airport lounges, and you pay no fees on your first three successful claims. Find out more about Premium.