Andrea Innocenti At first light this morning, the data transmission network that supports air traffic control began experiencing widespread anomalies across the country. The incident forced ENAV to immediately activate its contingency procedures , switching to a secondary satellite system . Thanks to this backup solution, operational capacity increased to 75% by around 13:30 PM, but it is still not possible to manage 100% of air traffic.
Enav's data network failure: causes and technical response
Preliminary checks have identified the flaw in the geographic data transmission network operated by TIM. Although the investigation is still ongoing, ENAV categorically rules out a cyber attack or any act of sabotage. The current flight management capacity of 50% is a direct result of the need to regulate flows to limit the volume of aircraft in Italian airspace.
The plan calls for full restoration by this afternoon, but operational capacity will remain limited until the main grid anomalies are resolved.
Mitigation actions and coordination with suppliers
Enav said it was working closely with its suppliers, particularly Tim, to identify the root of the problem and restore full functionality.
At the same time, airport authorities have introduced flow regulation measures starting at 6:00 a.m., reducing permitted movements to ensure the safety of departing and arriving flights.
Impact on Italian airports: chain of cancellations and delays
The disruption has affected airports across the country in varying degrees. At Fiumicino, four flights were canceled (Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana, and Trieste), and dozens of flights experienced delays of between 15 and 60 minutes. The ADR (Airport of the Italian Republic) has informed passengers via its website, monitors, and social media channels, urging them to check the status of their flights with their airlines.
In Lombardy, Malpensa Airport is experiencing delays in departures ranging from 30 minutes to over two hours, while arrivals are less affected. At Linate Airport , delays range from twenty minutes to over an hour for departures, and from 20 to 60 minutes for arrivals. Orio al Serio Airport , in the province of Bergamo, also experienced significant delays: the Ryanair flight to Trapani took off an hour and a half late, while the flight to Berlin accumulated a wait of an hour and twenty minutes.
Naples has shown an improvement compared to a few hours ago: its operating capacity has increased from 14 to 21 movements per hour, with nine departures and twelve arrivals cancelled, and an average delay of 40 minutes. In Salerno , out of eight scheduled flights, two were cancelled (one arrival, one departure) and one took off late.
In the South, Lamezia Terme has experienced delays of up to four hours: flights to Milan Linate and Ryanair are still awaiting takeoff, while arrivals from Milan, Bergamo, and Rome are not scheduled until after 11:00 a.m. Trieste has cancelled a flight from Rome and delayed a connection to Milan Linate by several hours. In Bari and Brindisi , cancellations have mainly affected Ryanair flights, with further delays on departing flights.
The towers in Florence and Pisa reported no technical problems, but the data transmission network still caused delays to scheduled flights, as reported by Toscana Aeroporti.
Institutional reactions, passenger rights and compensation
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini issued an urgent statement, urging TIM to intensify its efforts to return to normal operations. He emphasized that there is no link to malicious activity and warned that, if the disruption were to continue, the network operator could be held liable for the damage.
From the passenger perspective, EC Regulation 261/2004 remains valid: in the event of cancellation or prolonged delay, airlines must offer assistance (meals, refreshments, transfers, and possible overnight accommodation) and the option of reimbursement or rerouting on a later flight. However, since the disruption has been classified as force majeure , the financial compensation of €250-600, provided for delays attributable to the airline, is not mandatory.
Individual airlines have communicated their policies. Wizz Air allows passengers to rebook free of charge or request a refund, specifying that any accommodation and meal expenses will be refunded upon presentation of receipts. Ryanair has encouraged customers to check the status of their flights on its website, while EasyJet is undergoing a 24-hour strike that overlaps with the technical issue, exacerbating the delays.
Authorities are working to restore the main network, while passengers must rely on their rights under European legislation.