Catania–Fontanarossa Airport remains closed to all arriving and departing flights following a heavy volcanic ash emission from Mount Etna, with aviation authorities maintaining a red alert. The shutdown of Sicily’s largest airport, which began Saturday, has been extended until midnight Sunday, forcing widespread flight cancellations, delays, and diversions across Mediterranean routes.
Mount Etna Eruption Forces Catania Airport Closure
Mount Etna erupted late Sunday, producing an intense lava fountain and a massive volcanic cloud that climbed four kilometers into the sky, according to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Etna observatory. Prevailing winds carried the ash plume in a southerly direction, triggering heavy ash fallout across the southern sector of the volcano and prompting aviation officials to maintain the highest of four alert levels.
The airport press office confirmed that Catania–Fontanarossa Airport is closed to all traffic through 8 p.m. local time on Monday. In an official statement, airport management advised that “all arrivals and departures are therefore prohibited” and urged passengers “to present themselves at the airport only after consulting their airline.” The disruption affects the island’s primary aviation hub just weeks after operations had resumed following a major terminal fire in mid-July.
Flight Cancellations and Passenger Impact Across Sicily
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 shows that numerous scheduled routes connecting Catania to international destinations—including France, Austria, Malta, and various Italian regions—have been canceled, delayed, or redirected. Airlines are rerouting displaced passengers to alternative Sicilian aviation hubs such as Palermo and Comiso.
Mount Etna stands at approximately 3,350 meters, or nearly 11,000 feet, making it Europe’s highest volcano. Fontanarossa serves as Italy’s fifth-largest airport and handles a significant volume of tourists visiting the Mediterranean island. Volcanic ash emissions from Etna’s Northeast Crater have repeatedly forced authorities to restrict or suspend air traffic over recent months, highlighting the persistent aviation risks posed by Europe’s most active volcano.
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