Authorities in Sicily have suspended all air traffic at Catania-Fontanarossa International Airport following a thick plume of volcanic ash rising from Mount Etna. The airport operator, SAC, confirmed that flight restrictions, which began over the weekend, were extended on Monday with a complete halt to arrivals and departures until at least midnight local time (22:00 GMT/UTC). In an effort to minimize disruption, airlines have been rerouting as many flights as possible to other Sicilian hubs, including Palermo and Comiso.
Catania, located in the foothills of Europe’s most active volcano, is frequently affected by ash emissions. Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) officials noted that the current ash flow from the northeast crater is being carried southward by winds but does not indicate an imminent explosive phase. Passengers have been advised to check flight statuses before traveling to the terminal.
This incident marks the latest in a series of disruptions experienced this summer, which has seen the Mediterranean island’s tourism sector impacted by repeated eruptions and ash clouds. Mount Etna, a stratovolcano standing approximately 3,400 meters high on the eastern coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy’s highest peaks south of the Alps. While its activity poses risks to aviation, the rich soil it creates has historically supported the growth of the city of Catania.
Mount Etna really runs the show up there. It’s wild how much power one volcano has over an entire island’s transport network.
The wind direction seems to be shifting again. Hope the midnight deadline holds and they reopen Tuesday morning as planned.
I didn’t realize Catania airport closed completely. I’m flying there tomorrow—can I just reroute to Palermo instead of cancelling?
Ugh, another summer travel nightmare. My cousin’s wedding is in Catania next week and this is incredibly inconvenient.