Etna ash cloud shuts Catania airport, forces about 700 flight cancellations

Catania Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily is scheduled to remain shut until around 02:00 local time on August 14, 2026, after Italian authorities extended the closure of the surrounding airspace sector because of drifting volcanic ash from Mount Etna. Airport operator SAC said in a statement that all arrivals and departures would remain suspended and urged passengers to check flight status directly with their airlines.

According to figures published by SAC, about 400 departures were canceled between August 8 and 11, with a further 52 called off on August 12, bringing the total number of canceled flights, including arrivals, to roughly 700 since the volcanic activity intensified. More than 250 flights have been rerouted to other airports in Sicily, with over 100 sent to Comiso, around 50 to Palermo on August 11 alone, and 22 to Trapani. On August 12, SAC reported 50 departures operating from alternative airports and dozens of arrivals diverted to Palermo, Trapani and Comiso. Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways and Wizz Air, described as the airport's largest operators, have taken on most of the rerouted schedules.

Comiso airport itself briefly halted operations on the evening of August 11 due to ashfall before resuming normal service. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the eruption was continuing from two vents, producing extensive lava flows, with ash identified as the main hazard to aviation. The aviation alert level for the volcano has remained at its highest setting throughout the disruption.