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Mount Etna Eruption: Catania Airport Disruptions Continue

· 2 min read Travel News
Aerial view of Mount Etna's volcanic crater with Catania and Sicily in the background

Contents

  1. What Happened
  2. Which Airlines Were Affected
  3. What to Do If Your Catania Flight Is Affected
  4. Travelling to Sicily Right Now

Catania-Fontanarossa Airport - Sicily’s busiest - has partially reopened after a Mount Etna eruption shut it completely for 48 hours on 5–6 July, but passengers flying to or from Sicily should check their booking status before heading to the airport.

What Happened

Mount Etna erupted on 5 July 2026, triggering a red aviation alert from Italy’s civil aviation authority (ENAC) and forcing the full suspension of all flights at Catania. Around 130 flights were cancelled during the closure, with roughly 50 more diverted to Palermo airport as the only nearby alternative.

The alert was downgraded from red to orange on 7 July, allowing Catania to reopen. However, the knock-on effects across airline networks are still being felt. Airlines need time to reposition aircraft and crew that were displaced during the two-day shutdown, meaning cancellations and significant delays are continuing on 8–9 July as networks reset.

Which Airlines Were Affected

The following carriers had flights cancelled or disrupted at Catania: Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, Wizz Air, British Airways, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Iberia, Delta, and Air Canada.

Most airlines have offered free rebooking and refunds for affected passengers. Note that because the eruption was classified as an extraordinary circumstance, EU Regulation 261/2004 compensation (the standard €250–€600 payment for cancellations) does not apply - airlines are liable only for care (meals, accommodation, rebooking) but not cash compensation. Our Italy flight delay rights guide covers exactly what you are owed.

What to Do If Your Catania Flight Is Affected

  • Check directly with your airline before travelling to the airport - the situation is still evolving.
  • If you were rerouted to Palermo, be aware that Catania and Palermo are roughly 200 km apart. Ground transport (bus, car hire) between the two airports takes approximately 2–2.5 hours.
  • If your flight operated but arrived late, you may still be entitled to care under EU261 even if you are not owed compensation - keep all receipts.
  • Travel insurance policies covering trip disruption may cover expenses where EU261 does not.

Travelling to Sicily Right Now

Catania is back open for departures and arrivals, but expect residual disruption through 10 July as schedules stabilise. Travellers using flights to Italy via Rome, Milan, or Naples are unaffected. Only passengers specifically routing through Catania need to take action. If your Sicily plans are now confirmed, guided tours in Sicily covering Etna, the Valley of the Temples, and Taormina are bookable with free cancellation - useful if your schedule is still in flux.

We will update this article if ENAC changes the aviation alert level again.