--- title: "Back on Track: Strikes Will Hit Trains and Flights in France, Spain and Italy This November, Date by Date" description: "France 5th, Spain 11th, Italy 20th to 22nd November: every rail, air traffic control and airport strike in Europe, with your refund rights." author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief) date: 2026-11-03T13:00:46.848Z updated: 2026-11-03T13:00:46.862Z canonical: https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/europe-strikes-november-2026-trains-flights image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/pexels-40065391.webp categories: Smart Travel content_type: Guide region: France, Spain, Italy publication: Rich Travel Magazine schema_type: Article --- If you are travelling through France, Spain or Italy this month, three stretches of the calendar need your attention: Thursday 5th November in France, 10th to 12th November in Spain, and the weekend of 20th to 22nd November in Italy. All three bring rail strikes, and Spain and Italy add disruption around airports. Some dates are confirmed, some still depend on talks, and several have no official minimum-service plan yet, so treat each one as a warning to check your booking close to departure. ## France Rail Strike on 5th November All four main SNCF rail unions, CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots, have called a national strike for Thursday 5th November. It falls on a national day of action over wages and the 2027 budget. TGV INOUI, Intercités, regional TER trains, the RER and Transilien could all run reduced services. Union representatives meet SNCF management in Saint-Denis on Tuesday 3rd November, and that meeting could change the picture. Rail staff must declare their intention to strike at least 48 hours ahead, so SNCF plans to publish its strike-day transport plan around 17:00 on Wednesday 4th November. For a sense of scale, the last large SNCF strike on 10th June cancelled one in three TGVs and one in two Intercités trains. Air travel carries a separate risk. The FO union has filed a strike notice covering the French civil aviation authority, the DGAC, and UNSA Aviation Civile renewed its call to join the action on 2nd November. So far the DGAC has published no order telling airlines to cancel a share of their flights. Eurostar is not among the striking companies, but onward SNCF connections from Paris and Lille are exposed. The strike also lands the day before the new TGV M enters service between Paris and Marseille on 6th November, a train we covered when [the TGV turned 45](https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/tgv-train-turns-45-winter-seats-alps-germany). ## Spain General Strike on 11th November and the Renfe Strikes Around It Spain's two largest union confederations, UGT and CCOO, have called a 24-hour general strike from midnight to midnight on Wednesday 11th November over housing costs and wages, joined by CGT, CNT and several smaller unions. It is the first general strike backed by both confederations since 14th November 2012. Workers on the Barcelona Metro, FGC and Rodalies commuter trains have also joined the call. The days either side carry their own risk. The train drivers' union Semaf has called a full-day stoppage at Renfe on Tuesday 10th November and partial action on Thursday 12th November, which gives Spain three consecutive days of possible rail disruption. Ouigo, the low-cost high-speed operator, cancelled every train on 2nd November after its drivers walked out, and further partial stoppages are planned on Friday 6th November, from 06:00 to 12:00 and from 18:00 to 23:59. Spanish airports do not close during a general strike. The services most exposed are ground handling and baggage, Renfe trains, metros and city buses, which could make getting to and from the airport harder than the flight itself. Spain's Ministry of Transport sets the minimum services, and none had been published for flights as of 2nd November. If you are planning rail travel in Spain later in the season, our guide to [Spain scrapping seat reservations on regional trains](https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/back-on-track-renfe-seat-reservations-belgrade-trains) explains what else has changed. ## Italy Strikes on 9th November and 20th to 22nd November Italy has the longest list, and its calendar has moved more than once. - **Friday 6th November:** air traffic controllers at the ENAV Bari control centre strike from 13:00 to 17:00, affecting flights at Bari only. - **Monday 9th November:** Italo high-speed rail staff strike nationwide from 09:01 to 16:59, with on-board crews out from 02:00 to 23:59. - **Friday 13th November:** local transport strikes hit Milan's ATM network and Venice's ATVO buses, which link the city to its airports. - **Monday 16th November:** ANM public transport in Naples stops from 11:00 to 15:00. - **Friday 20th November:** the CGIL union holds a general strike across public and private sectors, and a national rail strike called by CUB Trasporti and SGB Ferrovie begins at 21:00. - **Saturday 21st November:** the rail strike runs until 20:00, local transport strikes affect cities including Turin and Naples, and air traffic controllers strike nationwide from 13:00 to 17:00. - **Sunday 22nd November:** air traffic controllers at Milan Malpensa strike for 24 hours, and security staff at Venice Marco Polo airport strike for 24 hours. Italian law protects some flights during strikes. Services scheduled between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00 must operate, and the aviation authority ENAC publishes a list of guaranteed flights. As the air traffic control strike on 21st November is nationwide, it affects every airline, not one carrier. Belgian unions have also talked about a national strike in the week of 23rd November, but no airport has confirmed any disruption so far. ## Your Refund Rights When a Strike Cancels Your Train or Flight - **A train cancelled by a strike in Italy:** you can choose an equivalent service or a full refund. Trenitalia and Italo both publish lists of guaranteed trains. - **A train cancelled in France or Spain:** you can exchange or refund your ticket under each operator's rules, through SNCF Connect, Renfe or Ouigo. - **A flight cancelled by an air traffic control or airport strike:** you are entitled to rerouting or a refund, and to care such as meals while you wait. Cash compensation is usually unlikely when the strike is outside your airline's control. - **A missed connection between a train and a flight:** this is only covered when both are on a single booking. On separate tickets, the risk is yours. - **Travel insurance:** many policies exclude strikes that were announced before you bought the cover, so read the terms before you rely on it. ## How to Plan Around the Strikes in France, Spain and Italy 1. **Check your train number, not your route.** A strike rarely cancels every train on a line, and operators publish cancellations service by service. 2. **Leave at least four hours between a train and a flight** on 5th, 11th and 20th to 22nd November. 3. **Travel early or late in Italy.** The guaranteed bands of 07:00 to 10:00 and 18:00 to 21:00 give you the best chance of a flight that runs. 4. **Fly rather than take the train between Spanish cities on 11th November**, and allow extra time for baggage and ground handling at the airport. 5. **Arrive early at Venice Marco Polo on 22nd November**, when the security staff strike could lengthen the queues. 6. **Book flexible or refundable fares** if you have to travel on a strike date. 7. **Keep screenshots** of every cancellation notice and receipt for your refund or insurance claim. This calendar will be updated as SNCF publishes its plan on 4th November, as Spain sets its minimum services and as Italy confirms or moves its dates.