Airlines cancel Italy flights as 'lockdown' takes hold

The FCO is now advising against "all but essential" travel to Italy in response to the Italian authorities imposing controls and restrictions across the whole country on Monday (9 March).

Many services to Italy have been cancelled for the next few weeks following the lockdown, although some repatriation flights may still operate.

EasyJet said it was in the process of cancelling all flights “touching” Italy between 10 March and 3 April but the airline is continuing to operate some “rescue flights in the coming days”.

“We will be operating rescue flights for passengers wishing to travel for essential, work, health or repatriation reasons to and from Italy,” added easyJet in a statement.

“Rescue flights will be listed on our latest travel information section of the website and customers can book on to these flights via our contact centre or by arriving at the airport as early as possible on the day of departure.”

British Airways has cancelled all 60 planned flights from the UK to Italy on Tuesday (10 March) and has suspended all Italy routes up to 4 April.

“In light of the Italian government’s announcement and the UK government’s official travel advice, we have contacted all customers who are due to travel today [Tuesday],” said BA in a statement.

“We have updated our policy to give customers more options and flexibility. Any travellers due to fly to or from Italy between now and April 4 can rebook to a later date up until the end of May, move their destination to Geneva or Zurich or receive a full refund.”

Ryanair meanwhile plans to suspend all international flights to Italy from midnight on Friday (13 March) until 8 April, although repatriation flights will continue for the next few days. Ryanair’s domestic flights within Italy will also be suspended from midnight on Wednesday (11 March) until 8 April.

Wizz Air has suspended flights from Luton to Bari and Catania until 3 April, as well as suspending the Luton-Tel Aviv route until 23 March after Israeli authorities imposed a 14-day quarantine period for all arriving passengers.