Catania-Fontanarossa airport remained under flight restrictions on Monday after airport operator SAC extended the suspension of arrivals and departures until midnight as volcanic ash from Mount Etna continued to affect operations. The Sicilian hub, Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, was again hit by limited airspace availability, leaving passengers facing delays, cancellations and possible diversions.
The latest operational update followed earlier suspensions and extensions over the weekend, after ash and wind conditions forced repeated restrictions on the airport’s airspace sectors. SAC had already reduced traffic before the full shutdown, with landings capped at one stage before the limits were widened into a broader suspension. Travellers were urged to verify flight status with their airlines before heading to the terminal.
The disruption was the latest in a run of Etna-related interruptions that has affected Catania repeatedly in mid-September and again over the final days of the month. The exact operating status beyond the latest deadline depends on a fresh update from the airport operator.