Mount Etna ash suspends more flights at Catania Airport and disrupts travel in Malta

Disruption overview

Volcanic ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt flights for a sixth day. All arrivals and departures were suspended at Catania Airport on 12 August 2026 until at least 6:00 pm local time, leaving only about 10% of scheduled movements operating.

Palermo Airport handled 190 flights that had originally been due at Catania and Comiso briefly paused operations because of ash fall. The disruptions also reached Malta, where flights were forced to alter their routes to avoid the ash cloud.

Flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh, and New York JFK were among those affected. Because this was caused by a natural event outside the airline's control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely, but airlines should still provide care and assistance such as rebooking, refreshments, and accommodation when needed.

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Disruption details

Volcanic ash from Mount Etna forced Catania Airport to suspend all arrivals and departures on 12 August 2026, the sixth day of flight disruptions, after wind-blown ash led to the closure of part of the surrounding airspace. The airport said the shutdown would last until at least 6:00 pm local time, disrupting travel across eastern Sicily at the height of the summer holiday season.

For passengers, this meant canceled journeys or diversions, long waits, and last-minute changes to travel plans. Real-time tracking showed that only about 10% of scheduled flights were still operating while the suspension was in place.

The disruption didn't stop at Sicily. Malta International Airport warned travelers on 11 August about Etna-related flight disruption, as some flights had to alter their routes to avoid the ash cloud.

Catania also saw cancellations on both European and long-haul routes, including departures to Amsterdam, Paris, and New York JFK. With no sign yet of when normal schedules will return, airports, local authorities, and airlines have continued issuing rolling updates and advising passengers to check directly with their carrier before traveling.

Other airports in Sicily have been absorbing diverted traffic:

• Palermo Airport handled 190 flights that had originally been due at Catania in recent days.

• The extra traffic created ground-handling bottlenecks and shortages of onward transport, leaving some passengers stranded.

• Comiso Airport briefly halted operations on Tuesday evening because of ash fall, but it has since reopened and has already been used for rerouted services.

Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said Mount Etna's effusive activity was continuing, and the aviation alert remained at red. That matters for flights because volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines, which is why airports well beyond the volcano itself have had to stay cautious.

If you're flying through Catania, Malta, Palermo, or Comiso, it's worth keeping a close eye on your airline and airport for schedule changes. Even after flights restart, disruption like this can still affect connections, diversions, and onward transport.

Because this disruption was caused by a natural event outside the airline's control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely. Even so, airlines still need to provide care and assistance while delays continue. That can include rebooking or a refund, food and drinks during long waits, accommodation and transport if you're stranded overnight, and help staying in touch. Although compensation is unlikely here, that doesn't mean you're without support. If you want to check what may apply to your flight, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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