Catania-Fontanarossa Airport remained closed on Sunday as volcanic ash from Mount Etna continued to disrupt operations, forcing suspension of both arrivals and departures. Airport operator SAC extended the stoppage after first halting flights on Saturday, keeping the Sicilian hub out of service for several hours and leaving passengers facing further delays and cancellations.
The closure initially covered arrivals only before widening to include outbound traffic as conditions deteriorated. SAC urged travellers to check flight status with their airlines before going to the airport, reflecting ongoing uncertainty over the timetable for resumption. Reuters reported the suspension was extended until 21:59 GMT, while Deutschlandfunk said the airport would stay shut at least until midnight local time.
Renewed volcanic activity at Mount Etna triggered the disruption, with ash in the atmosphere affecting safe operations at one of Italy’s busiest airports. Weather conditions also contributed to the decision to prolong the stoppage. The latest restriction came after earlier Etna-related interruptions at Catania, underlining the airport’s vulnerability to ash-related airspace closures.