Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is fully closed — no arrivals, no departures — following a sustained eruption at Mount Etna that began on 7–8 August 2026. The closure has been extended repeatedly and is confirmed through at least the early hours of 14 August. Approximately 700 flights have been cancelled across the disruption period, hitting the peak of summer holiday season.
What Is Happening
Etna entered an intense eruptive phase from its Voragine summit crater on 7–8 August, producing continuous ash emissions that have driven south over Sicily on persistent southerly winds. Italy’s civil aviation authority (ENAC) has maintained its aviation alert at red throughout.
The initial disruption on 8 August suspended arrivals only; departures briefly continued for aircraft already on the ground. By 12–13 August the ash column had grown significantly — reaching as far as Malta and Libya, according to Euronews — forcing a full airport closure affecting both directions of travel. Bloomberg reported the scale today as among the most severe peak-season disruptions in years.
Airlines Affected
Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways, Wizz Air, British Airways, and Lufthansa have all issued disruption notices. Most carriers are offering free rebooking or full refunds for affected flights.
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, volcanic ash is classed as an extraordinary circumstance. This means airlines owe you meals, accommodation, and rebooking assistance — but not the standard €250–€600 delay compensation. Our Italy flight delay rights guide covers exactly what you can claim and how.
Alternatives and Next Steps
- Check with your airline directly — the reopening timeline depends on ash dispersal and can shift with short notice.
- Inbound flights are diverting to Palermo airport, about 200 km west of Catania. Onward ground transport from Palermo takes 2–2.5 hours by bus or hire car.
- Comiso airport (CIY) in south-east Sicily has not been affected and continues to operate Ryanair and Wizz Air services.
- Travellers flying into mainland Italy — Rome, Milan, Naples — and connecting to Sicily by train or ferry are unaffected. See our guide to flights to Italy for mainland options.
- Travel insurance with trip disruption or cancellation cover may reimburse costs your airline does not cover.
This is the second major Etna-related disruption to Catania airport this summer, following a shorter closure in early July. INGV scientists note Etna remains in an elevated phase of activity.