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Mount Etna eruption suspends flights at Catania Airport
Eruptive activity from Mount Etna has caused the repeated suspension of flight operations at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily. The airport management company, SAC, has extended flight restrictions due to significant volcanic ash emissions and unfavorable wind conditions, affecting airspace sectors C1 and B3.
The ash cloud reached an altitude of approximately four kilometers. Consequently, all arrivals and departures were suspended, with the most recent extension lasting until 12:00 on Monday, September 28, 2026. The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) was raised to the red level.
The disruptions have caused widespread travel chaos, with thousands of passengers stranded or diverted to other Sicilian airports such as Comiso, Palermo, and Trapani. Some travelers, including citizens from Montenegro and Romania, have reported difficulties securing alternative transport. Additionally, the Acli Terra association has raised concerns regarding a sharp increase in ticket prices, citing a Verona–Palermo flight that reportedly cost approximately 1,180 euros. Local unions have also criticized the lack of a permanent crisis management plan for the volcano's frequent activity.
Entities
Acli Terra · Brussels Airlines · Carlo Calenda · Catania-Fontanarossa Airport · Catania–Fontanarossa Airport · Etna · INGV · Mount Etna · National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology · SAC · Sicily · Società Aeroporto Catania
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 9 SOURCES] Acli Terra has called for authorities to monitor airfares during the volcanic emergency to prevent speculation. etv.me · skopje1.mk · lider.mk
- [● 16 SOURCES] Several flights were diverted to other Sicilian airports, including Palermo, Trapani, and Comiso. jurnaluldearges.ro · www.wltv.it · www.aerotime.aero · brusselsmorning.com · etv.me · +4 more
- [● 37 SOURCES] Etna's volcanic activity and ash caused flight suspensions and limitations at Catania-Fontanarossa airport on September 26, 2026. anchetaonline.ro · revistaioana.ro · www.usay.gr · www.canalesicilia.it · www.dnews.gr · +18 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] A flight from Verona to Palermo reportedly cost approximately 1,180 euros. etv.me · lider.mk · skopje1.mk
- [● 11 SOURCES] The ash column from the northeast crater reached an altitude of approximately four kilometers. revistaioana.ro · www.canalesicilia.it · jurnaluldearges.ro · www.mopo.de · www.antaranews.com · +4 more
- [● 22 SOURCES] Flight activities at Catania-Fontanarossa airport were suspended until 12:00 on Sunday, September 27, 2026. anchetaonline.ro · revistaioana.ro · www.usay.gr · www.canalesicilia.it · www.wltv.it · +9 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) has been raised to the red level. www.canalesicilia.it · jurnaluldearges.ro · www.mopo.de · www.antaranews.com · claudegrandpeyvolcansetglaciers.com · +2 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Flight activities at Catania-Fontanarossa airport were suspended until 12:00 on Monday, September 28, 2026. bgtourism.bg · trumedia.ro · catania.liveuniversity.it · we-news.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 140 Brussels Airlines passengers were stranded due to the flight cancellations. www.archynewsy.com · brusselsmorning.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Volcanologist Marco Neri described the phenomenon as being like an 'inverted vacuum cleaner'. www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.halternerzeitung.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] No flights will depart from Catania Airport until midnight. www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.halternerzeitung.de
- [● 6 SOURCES] Catania Airport has extended flight restrictions due to volcanic ash. www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · aviation.direct · bgtourism.bg · we-news.com · +1 more