Strike paralyses Italian airports

Italian airports were virtually deserted today as a nationwide strike by air traffic controllers forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

The eight-hour walkout started at 9am Irish time. Italian airline Alitalia cancelled 334 flights ahead of the protest and rescheduled 74.

With the strike announced days earlier, most Italian travellers knew not to show up at the airport, but some foreigners didn’t and headed to the airports.

At Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, about 230 flights, including arrivals and departures, were scrapped, said airport spokeswoman Maria Eva Meldolesi.

At Milan’s Malpensa hub counters were shut down, while restaurants and cafes were empty.

Air-traffic controllers hope the strike will draw attention to their working without a contract for two years.

The strike was the first in a series of transport walkouts scheduled for this month. On Friday, local transport workers across the country were set to walk off their job for 24 hours.