A problem affecting Italy's airport data network caused delays and flight cancellations on Friday morning. Enav says it was not a cyber attack or sabotage.
Disruptions and cancelled flights were reported on Friday morning at many Italian airports due to faults in the data transmission network that supports air traffic control services, the national air navigation service provider Enav has announced.
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"From 6:00, in view of the steady increase in air traffic and the persistence of the faults, in order to continue guaranteeing the highest level of operational safety, flow management measures have been introduced, which mean a temporary reduction in the capacity to handle aircraft in Italian airspace", reads the statement issued in the morning, which also rules out any link between the faults and hacker attacks or sabotage.
Enav also said that, although the faults were detected during the night between Thursday and Friday, "normal management of air traffic, without any reduction in operating capacity" was ensured until 6:00 on Friday morning.
The authority explained that the source of the faults has been identified in the data transmission network and that it is working to determine the causes and restore full system operations.
Delays and cancellations in Rome, Milan and Naples
Italian airports are nevertheless experiencing disruption because of the network problem. At least four flights have been cancelled at Rome Fiumicino airport, to Milan Linate, Riyadh, Tirana and Trieste, while other services are reporting delays of up to 60 minutes. There are also delays and cancellations at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Naples Capodichino airports.
Airport operators are urging passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline.