Italy halves air traffic after data transmission fault

Air passengers in Italy experienced delays and cancellations on Friday after the country’s air traffic control systems encountered a data transmission problem. The ENAV authority, which manages Italian airspace, stated that temporary restrictions on flight volume were imposed once the issue was identified overnight. It ruled out any malicious acts, including a cyberattack, as the cause.

Major airports in Rome and Milan alerted travelers to potential disruptions and recommended checking with their airlines. The restrictions took effect around 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT/UTC) as scheduled services increased. ENAV said it had guaranteed the greatest possible number of departures, including intercontinental flights, while shorter-distance services were more likely to be interrupted.

“Despite the anomalies encountered on the data transmission network, we are deploying all available resources to minimize disruption and restore full operations as soon as possible,” ENAV said. The authority confirmed an operational capacity of 50% of total air traffic, emphasizing that safety remained the top priority. Airport operators in Rome and Milan issued similar notices to passengers.