Catania, September 14, 2026 – The Europe Today: Flights at Catania Airport in Sicily were suspended again on Monday due to volcanic ash generated by ongoing activity at Mount Etna, the airport operator SAC announced.
The suspension initially affected all arriving flights at the airport, one of Italy’s busiest in terms of passenger traffic, until 4 p.m. local time (1400 GMT), according to media reports.
SAC later announced that the suspension had been extended until 10 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), with departing flights also included in the restrictions.
Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and one of its most active volcanoes, regularly causes disruptions to air traffic in the Catania area. However, volcanic ash emissions have been particularly intense during the summer, resulting in repeated flight disruptions and affecting thousands of travelers during the peak holiday season.
Authorities continue to monitor the volcanic activity and its impact on aviation operations, with flight restrictions imposed as necessary to ensure passenger and aircraft safety.
