Airport and air traffic control staff embarked on co-ordinated industrial action on Tuesday (21 May), likely to affect hundreds of flights across the country.

Alitalia confirmed it had cancelled half its flights on Tuesday, while also confirming cancellations on Monday evening and early on Wednesday morning.

Flights during peak hours of 7am to 10am and 6pm to 9pm “will operate as scheduled”.

The airline said it had take “special measures” to reduce disruption, such as operating larger aircraft on certain routes, and stressed 60% of passengers due to fly on Tuesday would do so.

In total, Alitalia has confirmed more than 10 London flights have so far been cancelled, primarily affecting travel to Rome and Milan.

EasyJet said in a statement it had been “advised of a 24-hour national air transport strike in Italy”, adding it “expected an impact on its operations”.

Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight before travelling to their departure airport.

British Airways, meanwhile, has cancelled flights between Heathrow and Rome, Gatwick and Venice, and Gatwick and Verona, as well as services to Bologna, Milan, Pisa and Turin.

All three airlines have apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers by the disruption.