Airspace shutdown extended

Flight operations at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport remained suspended on Monday for a third consecutive day after Mount Etna emitted dense clouds of volcanic ash across eastern Sicily. Airport operator SAC announced that all arrivals and departures would stay halted until 21:59 GMT, corresponding to 23:59 local time. The flight ban was initially imposed on Saturday and subsequently prolonged after meteorological conditions continued to push airborne ash into local flight paths. Authorities maintained the closure of sector C1 airspace to protect aircraft from abrasive particles that settle on runways and flight approaches. SAC directed all ticket holders to verify their flight status directly with airlines before traveling toward the terminal grounds.

“Due to the emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere and the current direction of prevailing winds, the extension of the closure of airspace corresponding to sector C1 has been ordered.”

Volcanic activity and alert levels

The current grounding follows intensified activity at Mount Etna, recognized as the highest and most active volcano in Europe. The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that ash emissions originated from the volcano's northeast crater. Prevailing wind currents carried the particulate matter directly southward, pushing an ash cloud four kilometers into the sky above the Catania metropolitan area. In response, INGV maintained a red aviation alert, representing the highest risk rating on a four-tier scale. Red alerts were also implemented during earlier eruptive phases in August and during the preceding week, due to severe hazards for jet turbines.

Disruption across regional transport networks

Catania-Fontanarossa serves as Sicily's primary air gateway and ranks as Italy's fifth-busiest airport, processing approximately 12.4 million passengers annually at an average rate exceeding 40,000 travelers each day. Airlines redirected incoming and departing services to alternative Sicilian facilities, primarily Falcone Borsellino Airport in Palermo on the northwest coast and Pio La Torre Airport in Comiso to the south. Numerous passengers have remained camped inside the Catania terminal since Saturday, while others arranged private vehicle transport across the island to catch rescheduled flights. The regional scope of Etna's ash output previously spread beyond Sicily, causing dozens of flight cancellations at Malta International Airport during an earlier eruptive episode.

August 20265

Late September 20263

August 2026

5 days

Late September 2026

3 days

Data from the article text

Repeated closures and infrastructure debate

Monday's suspension represents the fourth time in two months that Catania airport has been forced to halt or limit flights due to volcanic activity from Etna. A similar closure occurred two weeks earlier, while sustained eruptions in August shuttered operations for five consecutive days and left hundreds of stranded families sleeping on terminal floors and baggage carousels. The repeated disruptions have intensified discussions regarding the airport's location and passenger protection. Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci stated in August that Catania airport sits in the wrong location, noting his previous unsuccessful efforts to relocate the hub while serving as president of the province of Catania between 1994 and 2003. Regarding passenger compensation, AirAdvisor chief executive Anton Radchenko explained that airlines treat volcanic airspace closures as extraordinary circumstances, meaning travelers cannot claim fixed statutory monetary compensation.