Catania Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily will remain closed to all arrivals and departures until 02:00 local time on August 14, 2026, following an extension of airspace restrictions by Italian authorities due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna. Airport operator SAC confirmed in a statement issued late on August 12 that affected airspace sector B3 remains suspended, advising passengers to check flight status directly with their airlines.
Operational disruptions have escalated across Sicily since the eruptive phase intensified, with approximately 700 total flights canceled, including arrivals and departures. SAC reported that roughly 400 departures were canceled between August 8 and August 11, alongside 52 additional canceled departures on August 12. More than 250 flights have been rerouted to alternative Sicilian airports, with over 100 diverted to Comiso Airport (CIY), around 50 to Palermo Airport (PMO) on August 11, and 22 to Trapani Airport (TPS).
On August 12, SAC recorded 50 departures operating from alternative fields, comprising 33 from Palermo Airport , 14 from Trapani Airport , and three from Comiso Airport . In addition, 40 arrivals were diverted to Palermo, 12 to Trapani, and five to Comiso on that day. Comiso Airport itself briefly suspended flight operations on the evening of August 11 due to ashfall before returning to service.
Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) stated that eruptive activity continues from vents at approximately 2,750 meters and 2,360 meters, maintaining the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation at red. A Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre bulletin indicated that while the densest ash remains over Sicily, lower concentrations reached eastern Malta and northern Libya, causing flight delays and cancellations at Malta International Airport (MLK) (MLA (MLA)).
Major carriers operating at Catania Fontanarossa Airport , including Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways, and Wizz Air, have absorbed the majority of schedule modifications. Volcanic ash is highly abrasive and poses risk to aircraft engines, sensors, and windshields. Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci noted that the repeated airport closures at Catania and Comiso have reopened discussions concerning the vulnerability of the regional airport infrastructure.
