Flights at Catania Airport in Sicily have been suspended for a third consecutive day as volcanic ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air traffic, adding to a summer marked by repeated closures at one of Italy’s busiest airports.
All arrivals and departures at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport have been suspended until 11:59 pm local time on Monday, 28 September, according to airport operator SAC. The decision follows continued volcanic ash emissions from Mount Etna and weather conditions carrying ash into airspace used by aircraft.
Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before travelling to the airport, with further updates expected depending on volcanic activity and weather conditions.
The disruption began on Saturday, 26 September, when volcanic activity and weather conditions forced authorities to suspend both incoming and outgoing flights. Restrictions continued throughout Sunday before being extended again on Monday.
Catania is Sicily’s busiest airport and Italy’s fifth busiest by passenger traffic, making prolonged closures particularly disruptive for tourism and connectivity on the island.
🇮🇹 Flights at Catania Airport in Sicily have been suspended until midnight after Mount Etna released volcanic ash into the atmosphere.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 27, 2026
Catania is Italy’s fifth-busiest airport, with passengers being told to check with airlines before travelling.
Etna is Europe’s highest and…
A summer of disruption
The latest shutdown is far from an isolated incident. Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, has caused repeated disruption at Catania throughout the summer of 2026.
On 14 September, flights were again suspended because of volcanic ash, just weeks after a much longer period of disruption in August.
As Travel Tomorrow reported in August, another eruptive phase forced Catania Airport to suspend incoming flights on 10 August after ash drifted into surrounding airspace. At the time, the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation was at red, the highest aviation colour code.
The situation subsequently deteriorated. During the August disruption, the airport remained affected for five consecutive days, with hundreds of flights cancelled or rerouted during the peak Italian summer travel season. Reuters reported that 36% of nearly 2,000 flights scheduled to arrive in Catania between 6 and 12 August were cancelled, while more than 600 were diverted to airports including Palermo, Trapani, Comiso and Lamezia Terme.
That episode followed another major disruption on 7 July where around 130 flights were cancelled and approximately 50 diverted after an eruption sent large clouds of ash into the sky and forced the suspension of all arrivals and departures at Catania.
The problem predates this summer. In July 2024, another Etna eruption forced Catania Airport to suspend flights, affecting an estimated 15,000 passengers and resulting in around 90 initial cancellations. A similar situation ocurred in August 2023, when an eruption of Mount Etna once again forced the closure of Sicily’s main airport.
Why volcanic ash is dangerous for aircraft
Although Mount Etna erupts frequently, volcanic ash presents a specific risk to aviation. Fine ash particles can reduce visibility and enter aircraft engines, where the high temperatures can cause them to melt and potentially damage critical components.
“Volcanic ash can be a great risk for aircraft,” Boris Behncke, a researcher at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory, previously explained. “It can be sucked into the motors, and force them to stall.”
The recurrent closures underline the challenge faced by Catania Airport, located around 30 kilometres south of the volcano, as Etna’s activity repeatedly intersects with one of southern Italy’s most important aviation and tourism gateways.
The latest disruption has also put additional pressure on other Sicilian airports. During the weekend, aircraft were diverted to Palermo, Comiso and Trapani, contributing to congestion elsewhere in the island’s transport network.
With the situation remaining dependent on volcanic activity, ash dispersion and wind direction, passengers travelling to or from Catania are advised to continue monitoring their airline’s information before heading to the airport.
