UK AIR passengers are facing major disruption due to a strike by Italian air traffic controllers, with scores of flights cancelled.
The four-hour stoppage today has led to Ryanair axing 96 flights to and from Italy, including four return services to and from the UK.
EasyJet has had to cancel up to 60 flights, including one service between Edinburgh and Milan, and other UK carriers are also likely to be affected by the action, which lasts from 11.30am to 3.30pm UK time.
The Ryanair cancellations include Manchester-Bologna, Stansted-Ancona, Stansted-Trieste and Liverpool-Pisa.
Ryanair warned that further delays and cancellations are likely and advised passengers to check the status of their flight.
Ryanair's Robin Kiely said: "We sincerely apologise to all passengers who have had their travel plans disrupted by these unjustified ATC strikes."
A statement from easyJet said: "We are doing everything possible to minimise the impact to our customers and we are offering anyone flying to and from Italy during those times the opportunity to transfer their flight free of charge to another day to avoid the strike. They should go to easyJet.com to make changes to their flights."
EasyJet said up to 20 of its cancellations would affect flights into and out of the UK.
British Airways flights are also affected. A BA spokeswoman said: "We are doing all we can to minimise disruption to customers affected by the threatened strike.
"We have re-timed a number of flights and are using larger aircraft where possible to help more customers, from cancelled flights, fly to where they need to be.
"We are advising customers flying to and from Italy to keep checking the very latest details on our website."
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