Etna eruption paralyzes Catania airport – airspace closed until 7 p.m.

The volcano's exact height changes repeatedly due to eruptions and cinder cones. The eruptions attract many tourists who want to watch the natural spectacle from a safe distance. For international air traffic, however, the latest eruption meant a severe disruption.

As the airport operator SAC announced, the airspace in the area of the ash cloud drifting southward was closed until 7:00 p.m. local time. Takeoffs and landings at one of southern Italy's most important airports are thereby temporarily suspended.

Airspace closure

Already on Sunday, Etna had produced increased ash emissions, further aggravating the situation. Due to a strong ash emission from the Etna volcano on the Italian Mediterranean island of Sicily, air traffic at Catania airport is currently only possible to a limited extent, it was reported from Catania.

As a result of the restrictions, only five arriving flights per hour may be handled at Catania airport. All departures also remain canceled until 6 p.m. For individual connections, a decision on procedure was initially awaited from the airline.

According to meteorological forecast models, the ash will continue to spread southward in the coming hours. The ash will be carried further south in the coming hours according to current weather forecasts, INGV added. This means the airspace closure remains a dynamic variable.

Impact on air traffic

Several flights at Catania airport were canceled, including a connection to Berlin. Other aircraft were able to take off with delays, while still others had to be diverted to Palermo. Part of the traffic thus shifted to the airport of the Sicilian capital, located some 200 kilometers away.

Both departures and arrivals were affected by the restrictions. Catania airport was temporarily closed, as the airport operator confirmed. Due to the volcanic activity overnight into Monday, all arriving flights remain suspended according to operator SAC.

Advice for travelers

Passengers were asked to travel to the airport only after consulting with their airline and to check the status of their flight. Travelers are requested to verify the status of their flight with their respective airline before heading to the airport, the statement said.

Military bases also affected

The closure does not only affect civil air traffic. The activities of the military airfields NAS Sigonella and Sigonella Air Base are also affected. The U.S.-Italian facility is located between Catania and the volcano and plays an important role as a base for the Mediterranean region.

The airport operator announced further information during the course of the day. The closure initially applies until 7:00 p.m. local time, with SAC later deciding on possible extensions or relaxations. A partial resumption of operations is also conceivable once the ash cloud has shifted further.

Etna as a permanent phenomenon

The ash cloud from Etna has paralyzed Catania airport – a scenario that repeats itself in the region at irregular intervals. Even though Etna is considered a constantly active volcano and its eruptions usually occur without casualties, ash clouds pose a serious danger to aviation. Volcanic ash can damage engines and frost cockpit windows, which is why airlines generally suspend takeoffs and landings during such phases.

Sicily is one of the regions of Europe most strongly shaped by volcanism. With its lava flows, plumes of smoke, and occasional eruptions, Etna has shaped the life and economy of the island for centuries. Catania airport is a central gateway for the region, both for tourism and for connections to the rest of Italy and Europe – the impact is correspondingly great when operations must come to a halt.

In the evening, SAC said it would provide information on further developments. Until then, travelers can only regularly check the airlines' flight status pages and the notices from the airport operator. (APA, 6.7.2026)