Catania–Fontanarossa Airport reopens after 3-day Mount Etna ash closure

Disruption overview

Catania–Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily reopened on 28 September 2026 after volcanic ash from Mount Etna shut all passenger flights for 3 days. The closure began on 26 September and left the airport with no commercial passenger movements, with several hundred flights canceled or diverted to Palermo, Trapani, Comiso, and mainland hubs. Thousands of travelers were affected at the end of the busy holiday period, and some residual delays may continue as airlines restore normal schedules.

Although compensation is unlikely under EC 261 because the disruption was caused by volcanic activity outside the airline’s control, airlines should still provide care and assistance such as rerouting, refreshments, and accommodation when needed.

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Disruption details

Catania–Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily fully reopened on the evening of 28 September 2026 after volcanic ash from Mount Etna forced a 3-day suspension of all passenger flights.

For passengers, this meant canceled or diverted trips, longer waits, and a difficult end to the busy holiday travel period. The closure began on the morning of 26 September, and a series of aviation notices kept both departures and arrivals grounded through Monday until runway and apron inspections allowed normal traffic to return earlier than the latest planned 9:59 pm GMT end time.

During the stoppage, Catania, Italy’s fifth-busiest airport, handled no commercial passenger movements. The airport usually sees around 250–300 flights a day at this time of year, so several hundred services were either canceled or diverted to Palermo, Trapani, Comiso, or mainland hubs.

Thousands of travelers were affected at the tail-end of Sicily’s high-season holiday traffic. Passengers were repeatedly told to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and to contact their airline about rerouting.

The disruption was caused by Etna’s latest eruptive phase, which sent thick ash clouds across eastern Sicily. Volcanic ash is a serious aviation risk because it can damage aircraft engines and reduce visibility.

Civil protection authorities kept an orange aviation alert in place for much of the weekend, then downgraded it on Monday evening once ash fallout eased and winds shifted. SAC later said the alert had ended, ordinary operations had been restored, and full services had resumed.

Airlines have started reinstating scheduled services, but some residual delays are still possible while aircraft are repositioned and backlogs are cleared.

Because this disruption was caused by volcanic activity outside the airline’s control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely. Even so, if your journey was affected, your airline should still help with rerouting or a refund, and provide care such as meals, refreshments, and accommodation if you’re stranded overnight.

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