Renegade Alitalia pilots and flight attendants are in their fifth day of strikes to protest a deal to privatise the state-run airline and relaunch it as a leaner, more efficient carrier. Under the action, workers are strictly applying job rules strictly, causing delays.

Officials at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport said 60 flights have been cancelled so far on Friday. Officials at Milan's airports did not immediately have information on cancellations.

The European Union has approved a deal by Italian investors to take over some Alitalia assets. -- AP