Italy’s Skies Went Half-Dark Friday, and the Cause Was a Data Network

On Friday, October 16, Italy’s air navigation provider ENAV cut airspace capacity by up to 50 percent after overnight anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic control. Contingency systems kept traffic moving normally until about 6 a.m., but as traffic grew and the problems continued, ENAV began regulating flight flows.

The company said it ruled out a cyberattack and found no malicious activity. Alternative data systems, including a secondary satellite network, were used to let as many departures as possible go that morning, including intercontinental flights. ENAV said operations remained safe throughout.

Delays and cancellations spread across the country, with Rome Fiumicino and the Milan and Bergamo airports among those affected. No cancellation total was published. Capacity was raised in stages, reaching 75 percent by the afternoon and then full capacity later in the day.

The timing made things worse for some travelers. A 24-hour nationwide strike by easyJet employees in Italy took place the same day, with protected flight windows from 7 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Anyone rebooking after Friday’s disruption should check with their airline, since schedules were still settling after the restrictions lifted.

Sources: ITV News, Business Travel News Europe