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Italy's Catania airport shuts again as Etna ash halts flights - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Italy's Catania airport shuts again as Etna ash halts flights

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 14, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: September 14, 2026

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Finance Travel Disruption Italy News

Catania Airport Shuts Again Due to Volcanic Ash From Mount Etna

Flight Suspensions and Impact on Travelers

Immediate Suspension of Flights

ROME, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Flights at Italy's Catania airport were suspended again on Monday due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna's ongoing activity, the company operating the Sicilian hub said.

Duration and Extension of Suspension

All arrivals at the airport, Italy's fifth-busiest by passenger traffic, were initially suspended until 4 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).

Operator's Update and Inclusion of Departures

Airport operator SAC later said in a Facebook post that the suspension had been extended until 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) and would include departing flights.

Mount Etna's Activity and Broader Effects

Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano, frequently disrupts flights at Catania, but ash emissions have been particularly intense this summer, affecting thousands of travellers during the peak holiday season.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Gavin Jones and Alvise Armellini)

Key Takeaways

  • Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, has caused repeated and unusually prolonged disruptions to Catania during summer 2026, marking the most severe ash‑related shutdown since at least 2002, with cancellations affecting over a third of flights and hundreds diverted (euronews.com)
  • The prolonged closures have severely strained Sicily’s air network: thousands of travellers were stranded, with many flights diverted to Palermo, Trapani, Comiso and Lamezia, prompting agencies to urge a coordinated task‑force response (euronews.com)
  • Italian aviation authorities (ENAC), along with ENAV, INGV and the military, activated a Crisis Committee to manage air‑space closures, monitor volcanic and wind conditions, and ensure passenger safety and assistance obligations (comunicati.enac.gov.it)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Catania airport closed on Monday?
Catania airport was closed due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna's ongoing activity, which affected flight safety.
How long were flights at Catania airport suspended?
Flights were initially suspended until 4 p.m. local time and later extended to 10 p.m., affecting both arrivals and departures.
How often does Mount Etna disrupt flights at Catania airport?
Mount Etna frequently disrupts flights at Catania airport, but this summer's ash emissions have been especially intense.
How many travellers were affected by the Catania airport closure?
Thousands of travellers were affected during the peak holiday season due to the airport's closure.

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