Alitalia workers strike, 250 Milan flights cut

(Updates with flights cancelled, Rome strike)

MILAN, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Striking Alitalia AZPIa.MI workers forced more than 250 flights at Milan's airports to be cancelled on Monday in a protest at the struggling carrier's cutback plans. Strikers blocked access to the main international airport, Malpensa, as part of the four-hour stoppage, Milan airport operator Sea said. The strike was the latest in a string of labour actions to hit Italy's national airline.

At least 197 takeoffs and arrivals were cancelled at Malpensa, and another 57 at the smaller Linate airport, Sea said.

The stoppage coincides with a visit to Italy by officials of the International Exhibitions Bureau. They are evaluating Milan's candidacy to host an international expo in 2015.

Alitalia said in August it would cut its presence in Milan, the hub of Italy's industrial north, as part of a survival plan as it looks for a buyer.

Another 25 flights were cancelled at Rome's Fiumicino and Ciampino airports because air traffic controllers struck for four hours over a contract dispute, air traffic control company Enav said in a statement.

A strike by Rome service crews also grounded or delayed some flights of low-cost carriers, the Rome airport operator said.

((Reporting by Ilaria Polleschi, writing by Ian Simpson, editing by David Holmes, Paul Bolding; Milan newsroom +39 02 6612 9507, fax +39 02 801 149, milan.newsroom@reuters.com)) Keywords: ALITALIA STRIKE/

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