Mount Etna Eruption Grounds Hundreds of Flights at Catania Airport
A major eruption of Mount Etna has forced the closure of Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, with over 700 flights cancelled and ash reaching as far as Malta and Libya. Here is what UK travellers need to know.
Europe's most active volcano is causing havoc for summer holidaymakers. A sustained eruption of Mount Etna in eastern Sicily has blanketed the region in volcanic ash since early August 2026, forcing the repeated closure of Catania Fontanarossa Airport and the cancellation of more than 700 flights during the busiest fortnight of the summer season.
What Has Happened?
Etna entered a period of intense activity in the first week of August, throwing lava and thick plumes of volcanic ash high into the atmosphere. By 10 August, the accumulation of ash in surrounding airspace forced the airport operator SAC to suspend all arrivals at Catania. The disruption has continued in waves since then, with the airport closing again on 12 August until at least 18:00 local time as the ash cloud thickened.
The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in Toulouse, which monitors European airspace hazards, tracked the plume drifting south and south-west. It reached Malta, causing delays there too, and reports suggest the ash extended as far as northern Libya.
Which Airlines Are Affected?
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All carriers serving Catania have been hit. Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and ITA Airways have all cancelled or diverted flights. Around 190 flights were rerouted to Palermo Airport on the western side of the island, which has remained operational throughout.
UK airports with direct routes to Catania include Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh. If you are booked on a Catania flight in the coming days, check our Catania departures board and cancelled flights tracker for live status before heading to the airport. You can also see which routes normally operate from Catania on the destinations page, check Catania weather conditions and, if you are driving to the airport, browse parking options.
What Are Your Rights?
Because volcanic eruptions are classified as an extraordinary circumstance, airlines are not required to pay the standard EC 261 financial compensation (up to €600 per passenger) for cancellations.
However, they are still legally required to provide:
- Rebooking onto the next available flight at no extra cost, or a full refund if you no longer wish to travel
- Care and assistance while you wait: meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is needed
- Communication: two free phone calls, emails or faxes
If your airline is not offering these, document everything and submit a claim afterwards. Organisations like AirHelp can assist with the process.
Palermo as an Alternative
Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport on the north-west coast has stayed open and absorbed much of the diverted traffic. Live Palermo departures, arrivals and cancelled flights are all available on our site, along with the Palermo weather forecast. It is roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Catania, or about 3 hours by train. If you are determined to reach eastern Sicily, flying into Palermo and making your way overland is currently the most reliable option.
Comiso Airport, a smaller facility south of Catania, was also briefly affected but has since reopened with reduced operations. Depending on your final destination, Naples Airport on the Italian mainland is another option, with regular ferry and rail connections to Sicily.
Should the Airport Even Be There?
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The disruption has reignited a long-running debate in Italy about Catania airport's location. Italy's Minister for Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, told Euronews that the vulnerability has been known for decades and that previous proposals to relocate the airport to a more sheltered inland site between Catania and Enna have never secured enough political backing.
Whether or not relocation ever happens, Etna has erupted regularly for thousands of years and shows no signs of stopping. If you book flights to eastern Sicily, travel insurance that covers volcanic disruption is well worth having.
Latest Updates
As of 14 August 2026, Catania airport remains subject to intermittent closures depending on wind direction and ash density. The situation can change rapidly: follow our live Catania departures, arrivals and cancellations pages for real-time updates before travelling.
For our analysis of what happens when the airspace reopens and the backlog of delayed passengers starts to clear, see our companion article: Catania Airport Delays: The Etna Backlog and What Happens When Flights Restart.
Written by
WhichTerminal Team
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