Catania Airport in Sicily suspended flight operations on Saturday after an eruption at Mount Etna sent a volcanic ash plume four kilometers into the sky. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology issued a red aviation warning, forcing airport closures and widespread flight diversions.
Mount Etna Eruption and Airspace Closures at Catania
Renewed volcanic activity at Mount Etna’s northeast crater disrupted travel across Sicily as an ash cloud reached an approximate height of 4 kilometers, according to measurements from Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. The active phase prompted authorities to issue a red aviation warning, which represents the highest of four warning levels for aviation governing activity at Mount Etna. Data provided by the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology indicates that the plume reaches an altitude of 4 kilometres. Aviation authorities have maintained a red alert—the most severe of the four flight warning categories—amid ongoing activity at Mount Etna, mirroring conditions seen last week and throughout August.
The resulting ash plume and safety restrictions led to the closure of airspace sector C1. The airport’s Operational Coordination Unit imposed zero-landing and zero-takeoff rules, bringing flight movements to a temporary halt. Operations were initially suspended until 4 pm local time on Saturday before being extended. Catania Airport said all incoming flights were suspended until 4 pm local time on Sept. 26 due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna.
Flight Cancellations and Passenger Rerouting
Before the complete shutdown, Catania Airport scaled back its arrival rate to just four landings per hour, a sharp drop from its normal capacity of 12 flights per hour. At least 10 flights operated by ITA Airways faced diversions, alongside a Volotea service rerouted to alternative Sicilian airports including Palermo, Trapani, and Comiso. Five flights were diverted to Palermo, three flights to Trapani and two to Comiso, while a Volotea flight was also rerouted to Comiso. An aviation service from Oslo also faced diversion to Palermo.
Travelers caught in the disruption experienced firsthand delays and itinerary changes. Jan Petter Wigum and Janne Birgitte Hagen, Norwegian tourists staying in Giardini Naxos in underkant av 3 mil i luftlinje fra Etna, watched the ash clouds drift south before receiving word that their return travel had been redirected to the airport in Palermo. Cruise passengers Julie Gabriella Nicolaisen (28) and Irshad Zahid (30) witnessed the volcano from near Misurinasjøen after spending the week on a cruise, describing the sight as very cool while other passengers appeared small-hysterical and amazed.
Extended Airport Closures and Weather Complications
The airport operator confirmed that all takeoffs and landings would remain suspended until 12 noon local time on Sunday. The volcanic disruption compounded troubles caused by a violent thunderstorm during the night, which had also caused disruption to air traffic. Ash is currently emerging from the north-eastern crater and being carried southwards by the wind, according to statements from the airport operator and the Italian news agency ANSA.
Mount Etna ranks among the most active volcanoes in Europe, and its frequent eruptions have routinely affected regional infrastructure. Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, which handles approximately 12 million passengers annually, previously faced a temporary closure in mid-September after the volcano began spewing ash, and experienced a weeklong shutdown in August during peak tourist season.
Infrastructure Pressures and Aviation Warnings
There have been growing demands in Italy to close Catania Airport and expand other hubs on Sicily because of its proximity to Etna, located approximately 40 kilometers away. INGV, Italy’s national vulcanology institute, maintains the red alert status as activity continues at the north-eastern crater.