Southern Italy Flights Disrupted: Storms Cause Cancellations & Diversions

Southern Italy Travel Disrupted as Storms and Strikes Compound Aviation Chaos

Southern Italy is once again grappling with significant travel disruptions as severe weather and industrial action combine to create a challenging situation for air passengers. A powerful maestrale storm is currently sweeping across the region, with wind gusts reaching an impressive 125km/h, turning travel plans for thousands into a logistical nightmare.

The situation became critical early Tuesday morning, forcing airlines to make rapid changes to routes and suspend services to ensure operational safety. Among the most significant disruptions is a nationwide 24-hour strike by airline and airport staff, which has already led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays.

Specifically, Ryanair flight FR0739, departing from Bologna this morning and destined for Catania, was forced to divert to Rome Fiumicino Airport due to the prohibitive winds. Passengers departing from Reggio Calabria Airport also faced difficulties, as ITA Airways flight AZ01154, scheduled to depart for Rome Fiumicino at 6:10, was officially cancelled due to crosswinds making takeoff impossible. These incidents represent just the tip of the iceberg in what is expected to be an extremely complex day for the entire southern Italian infrastructure network.

Traveler frustration is fueled by a seemingly relentless series of extreme weather events. Just last week, Cyclone Nils put a strain on airport operations, causing widespread chaos and delays. A month prior, Cyclone Harry had already caused dozens of diversions and cancellations, highlighting a systemic vulnerability in Southern Italy’s transport system in the face of changing weather patterns. The recurrence of such scenarios within a short timeframe underscores how precarious the right to mobility has become for those traveling to and from the regions of the Mezzogiorno.

The forecast for the coming hours offers no immediate improvement. The maestrale storm continues to rage with consistent intensity across the southern Mediterranean basin, and airport authorities confirm that the state of alert will remain at its highest level throughout the afternoon. Flight disruptions are expected to persist, making further cancellations and significant delays probable on a day when Southern Italy finds itself once again at the mercy of the weather and partially isolated from the rest of the country.

The disruptions come after Italy experienced a major aviation disruption on Monday, February 16, 2026, with at least 72 flights canceled and many more delayed due to the strike. Over 500 flights were cancelled, leaving 27,000 passengers stranded.

Further complicating matters, Cyclone Harry struck southern Italy on January 24, 2026, causing significant damage to airports, train services, and coastal infrastructure in Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria. Catania Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily and Cagliari Elmas Airport in Sardinia were temporarily closed due to severe weather conditions, impacting flights operated by airlines including Alitalia and Ryanair.

In addition to the flight cancellations, 328 flights were delayed on Sunday at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, and other key hubs, affecting services operated by ITA Airways, Iberia, easyJet, and other European carriers.