Catania-Fontanarossa Airport on Sicily suspended both arrivals and departures on Wednesday after a fresh ash cloud from Mount Etna drifted into the airport area, extending a series of disruptions that has already affected summer travel in eastern Sicily. The latest closure kept one of the island’s main gateways constrained as aviation authorities monitored changing wind conditions and volcanic activity.
The airport operator SAC and aviation authorities moved to restrict operations after renewed eruptive activity sent ash into controlled airspace, with earlier limits affecting only part of the schedule before the disruption widened. Flights have repeatedly been diverted to other Sicilian airports as the ash plume shifted, while passengers were advised to check flight status before travelling.
The episode follows a multi-day pattern of Etna-related interruptions in which airspace classifications and operational restrictions changed as dispersal conditions evolved. Catania, a key hub during the peak summer season, has been among the airports most exposed to the volcano’s recurring ash hazard.