Europe's Travel Strikes: Flight And Train Disruption You Can Expect In April

Our guide is updated as soon as a new European strike is announced.

ADVERTISEMENT

Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.

Walkouts are sometimes planned months ahead but others are announced last minute, showing that it always pays to check before you travel.

Luckily, we have gathered all of the strike information together below.

Read on to find out where and when are walkouts taking place.

If your flight or train is cancelled or delayed, you will be entitled to a new ticket or compensation. Read our guide for the full details.

UK: Train strikes in April

While there is no national train strike planned in the UK, various localised action is planned for April.

On Saturday 13 April, industrial action by the RMT union will impact CrossCountry services. From 15-20 April, strikes by the ASLEF union will affect Northern rail services. And on 20 April, an ASLEF walkout will impact LNER trains.

On the London Underground, customer service staff will walk out on 10-11 April, which may force some stations to close.

Heathrow Border Force strike called off

A strike planned at London Heathrow Airport from 11-14 April has been cancelled to allow time for negotiations to take place.

If the dispute over working conditions is not resolved, further strike announcements are expected. 

Italy: Transport strike announced in April

Two of Italy's biggest unions have announced a strike on Thursday 11 April that will hit rail and other public transport.

The walkout over working conditions and tax will be staged in different four-hour windows in cities across the country. Staff at state owned train company Ferrovie dello Stato - which includes Trenitalia - will go on strike from 9am to 1pm.

France: Could strikes hit Paris Olympics?

CGT-RATP union members announced a seven-month strike notice from 5 February to 9 September that could hit the Ile-de-France bus and metro network - including during this summer's Olympic Games.

However, the French Senate adopted a bill on 9 April to allow the state to ban transport strikes for set periods each year to avoid disruption during major events like Paris 2024. It also calls for more advance warning of strikes and increased minimum service obligations.

The bill faces opposition and must be adopted by the French National Assembly before it becomes law.

Workers at the state-owned public transport company say they are walking out over pay.

Germany: Threat of various strikes ends

On 25 March, Deutsche Bahn reached an agreement with Germany’s GDL train drivers' union, bringing an end to five months of negotiations and strikes. 

The deal means that GDL will abstain from strikes until at least February 2026.

ADVERTISEMENT

German union Verdi has also called off strikes at various German airports after reaching a pay deal.

If you know of a big strike happening in your country that we have missed, we'd love to hear from you via Twitter.

RECENT NEWS

Moldova, Greece And Ireland: Where Tourist Arrivals Are On The Rise In Europe This Year

In the first half of 2026, Europe as a whole saw a 3% increase in tourists – but arrivals were down in Western Europe,... Read more

From F1 To FIBA: Qatar Unveils Packed Calendar Of Global Events

More than 560 events are planned through 2027, with major sports, concerts and festivals on the programme as Qatar looks... Read more

Athens, Glasgow And Rome: Heres Where To Find The Coolest Neighbourhoods In Europe

The hottest area in Athens – Neos Kosmos – claimed first in Europe and third place in the overall ranking. Read more

Istanbul Airport Overtakes London Heathrow As Worlds Most Connected Hub

Of the top 50 most connected airports in the world, 12 are located in Europe. Read more

These Are The Best Food And Drink Tours To Travel For In 2026, According To Tripadvisor

Topping the review-led ranking is a food walk in Reykjavik where travellers get to try everything from Icelandic hot dog... Read more

Which European Cities Have The Most Expensive Public Transport?

A new Greenpeace study has found that fares have risen in 14 European capitals since 2023, with some cities seeing price... Read more