Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, erupted again over the weekend, ejecting a 4km ash cloud and forcing Catania-Fontanarossa Airport to suspend operations for the third consecutive day. The stratovolcano frequently causes flight suspensions at Catania Airport due to hazardous volcanic ash plumes and red aviation alerts.
Why volcanic ash grounds flights
When a volcano erupts, flights are often cancelled or diverted because volcanic ash can be dangerous for planes. Jet engines can pull in tiny ash particles, which may damage engine parts and even cause engines to lose power. Ash can also affect aircraft instruments, reduce visibility, and make runways more slippery, particularly when it is wet.
The current eruption began on 26 September 2026, prompting Catania Airport to initially limit incoming flights. Later that afternoon, as the ash plume grew and winds worsened, officials stopped all flights in and out of the airport.
Red alert and flight suspensions
In recent days, the airport has faced repeated disruptions as Mount Etna's eruptions have become stronger, triggering a red flight warning, the highest alert level. Catania is Italy's fifth-busiest airport, so the multi-day closure is causing major travel problems.
In its most recent update, Catania Airport states on its website: "Following volcanic activity and weather conditions, inbound flight operations at Fontanarossa Airport have been suspended, and temporary limitations on departures are in place until 23:59 PM today, Monday, September 28."
Cancelled and diverted flights
Airlines have cut many morning and midday flights. Flight tracking on Flight Radar shows the following arrivals are cancelled or diverted:
- 13:20 - FR4856 - Rome (FCO) - Ryanair - Cancelled
- 13:30 - DX1842 - Lampedusa (LMP) - DAT - Diverted to PMO
- 13:30 - U23537 - Milan (MXP) - easyJet - Cancelled
- 13:40 - U28287 - London (LGW) - easyJet - Cancelled
- 13:55 - FR3749 - Bologna (BLQ) - Ryanair - Cancelled
- 14:00 - OS579 - Vienna (VIE) - Austrian Airlines - Estimated 13:42
- 14:40 - AZ1745 - Rome (FCO) - ITA Airways - Cancelled
- 14:40 - FR378 - Venice (VCE) - Ryanair - Cancelled
Flights at Catania Airport remain suspended until 11.59pm tonight. The red VONA aviation alert, the highest level on the four-level scale, remains in force, with ash reaching around 14,000ft (4.3km). Airspace sectors C1 and B3 are closed, meaning flights cannot take off or land at Catania.
Several flights were cancelled this morning, including services to Paris, Rome, Bucharest and Venice. Others have been diverted to Palermo and Comiso airports. The ash plume is described as thin and narrow and is drifting south-west. Winds around Mount Etna are blowing south-east at around 5km/h, with gusts of up to 25km/h, according to Etna Watch's Open-Meteo data. If you are travelling in the area, check your flight status with your airline before going to the airport.
