Italy disruption causes 271 delays and 15 cancellations at Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino

Disruption overview

On 5 April 2026, Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) recorded 271 delays and 15 cancellations, disrupting 286 flights and leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in crowded terminals. ITA Airways, Lufthansa, and British Airways were among the airlines affected, with disruption spreading across routes to and from Milan and Rome, including links with London, Paris, and New York. Knock-on delays may continue for the next few days as aircraft and crews return to position. Because the cause is still under investigation, it isn't yet clear whether EC 261 compensation will apply, but passengers should still speak to their airline about rebooking, refunds, and care while the backlog is cleared.

Disruption details

On Sunday, 5 April 2026, Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) were hit by 271 delays and 15 cancellations, affecting a total of 286 flights. For passengers, this meant long lines, congested gates, missed onward connections, and hundreds stranded across Italy's two busiest airports as the disruption began overnight and continued through the day.

The disruption spread across domestic, European, and long-haul services. ITA Airways was among the hardest hit, with pressure on its Rome-Milan shuttle and flights linking Italy with London, Paris, and New York. Lufthansa also saw heavy schedule slippage on services starting in Milan and Rome, while British Airways faced delays on its London-Rome and London-Milan rotations. Other carriers using the two hubs were affected as well.

For many travelers, the disruption won't end with one delayed departure. Rome and Milan are major connection points, so a late inbound aircraft can quickly turn into a missed onward flight, especially on trips continuing to another European city or across the Atlantic. That leaves passengers dealing with longer waits, changing itineraries, and more uncertainty about when they'll finally arrive.

Airlines are offering limited rebooking on alternative services, but that hasn't solved the problem for everyone. With 15 canceled flights already removed from busy Easter-period schedules, spare seats are tight, and some travelers may face longer waits before they can be rerouted.

The cause of the disruption still hasn't been identified. Airport authorities are investigating, and ground teams are working around the clock to clear the backlog. Until the trigger is clearer, it's hard for passengers to know whether the problem was caused by something an airline could control or by a wider operational issue outside its hands.

The effects are likely to reach beyond Italy. When major hubs like MXP and FCO fall behind, aircraft and crews can end up out of position, which creates secondary delays across connected networks. Routes touching London, Paris, and New York were already seeing knock-on disruption, and some schedules could stay uneven for multiple days if aircraft rotations take time to recover.

If you're due to travel through Milan Malpensa Airport or Rome Fiumicino Airport in the next few days, check your flight status before leaving for the airport and keep an eye on airline alerts. Give yourself extra time for check-in and security too. Both terminals remain heavily congested, so even flights that operate may take longer than usual to board and depart.

Because the root cause is still unknown, it isn't yet clear whether affected passengers will qualify for compensation under EC 261. Even so, you should still ask your airline about rebooking or a refund if your flight was canceled, and about food, drinks, or accommodation if you're left waiting. If you want to understand what rights may apply to your flight, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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