Rome, 15 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Travellers at Italian airports are preparing for delays as ground staff strike and many flights are cancelled on Saturday.

The Italian consumer protection association Codacons estimated that around 1,000 flights and more than 250,000 passengers could be affected by the strike. Ground staff are striking from 10 am to 6 pm (0800-1600 GMT).

Hundreds of flights, including ones to and from Germany, have already been cancelled. Airports have been urging people to check the status of their flights before travelling.

In addition to ground staff striking, pilots working for Air Malta, who handle Ryanair flights in Italy, plan to strike from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Pilots and flight attendants working for budget airline Vueling are also called on to strike from 10 am to 6 pm.

Ryanair issued an announcement saying flights to and from Italy would be limited or cancelled due to the strikes.

After a nationwide railway strike on Thursday, this is the second disruption for Italy's public transportation amid the peak of Italian travel season and a heat wave.

Photo: MIA archive