FORMER ILVA STEELWORKERS OCCUPY GENOA AIRPORT, DISRUPTING PASSENGER ACCESS Operations at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA), Italy, faced disruption on Monday, October 19, 2026, after former Ilva steelworkers occupied the terminal’s departures area during a protest over jobs and the future of the Cornigliano steelworks. The workers marched from the industrial site to the airport, chanting “Ilva Genova non si chiude” (Genoa Ilva will not close) and demanding answers from the Italian government. Impact on airport operations: 🔹 Protesters entered the departures area and blocked access toward security screening and the boarding gates. 🔹 Airport operations initially continued, although passengers experienced logistical difficulties. 🔹 Workers initially left a corridor open to allow passengers to reach their gates, but reports indicated that this passage was subsequently closed. 🔹 Brief tensions were reported between demonstrators and passengers attempting to reach check-in desks. Why are workers protesting? The demonstration follows a request by the commissioners overseeing Acciaierie d’Italia, the company operating the former Ilva steelworks, for expanded temporary layoffs amid supply shortages and uncertainty over continued production. FIOM union representative Armando Palombo declared that workers would remain at the airport until the government provided a clear response. The protest follows earlier demonstrations in Genoa and recalls a similar airport occupation by Ansaldo workers in 2022. The situation highlights how industrial disputes can spill over into transport infrastructure, affecting airport access and passenger journeys even when flight operations initially continue. 🎥credit: Genova24 https://t.co/xZEdtHESTv #GenoaAirport #Italy #AviationNews #AirportDisruption #IndustrialAction #AviationUpdates

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) October 19, 2026