Mount Etna ash halts arrivals at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport on 10 August

Disruption overview

Ash from a new eruption of Mount Etna forced the suspension of all arriving flights at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport on 10 August 2026. Dozens of flights operated by Ryanair, EasyJet, ITA Airways, and Wizz Air were diverted or placed on hold, while Palermo continued to operate normally. Because the disruption was caused by volcanic ash outside airline control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely, but airlines should still provide care, assistance, rebooking, or refunds where needed.

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Disruption details

Flights arriving at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport were suspended on 10 August 2026 after ash from a new eruption of Mount Etna drifted across the airport’s approach paths. Airport operator SAC said all inbound traffic would be halted until 6am Tuesday 11th August.

For passengers, this meant diversions and a frustrating day of uncertainty. Dozens of flights operated by Ryanair, EasyJet, ITA Airways, and Wizz Air were either diverted to other Italian airports or canceled as the restriction came into force. In total 127 arrivals and departures were canceled with arrivals barred and airspace restrictions in place.

The main restrictions were clear:

• All inbound traffic was suspended because the air-traffic sector southwest of the volcano, Sector C1, was closed by the ash plume.

• Before the full suspension, the airport had limited arrivals to 5 landings per hour using a reciprocal runway setup to keep some traffic moving.

• SAC told passengers to check directly with their airline for updates as volcanic and weather conditions continued to change.

The disruption appeared to be localized to eastern Sicily rather than island-wide operations. Palermo Falcone–Borsellino Airport reported normal operations, suggesting the impact was centered on Catania.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said Etna’s latest eruptive phase was continuing from vents at 2,750 m and 2,360 m altitude. The eruption was feeding lava flows and producing an extensive ash cloud, and the agency kept its Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation at red alert, the highest level for aircraft hazards.

That matters because Mount Etna is only 29 miles from the airport and regularly disrupts flying in the area. A similar eruption in July forced the cancellation of all flights to and from Catania for a full day, showing how quickly conditions can change when ash reaches flight paths.

Because this disruption was caused by volcanic ash rather than something the airlines could control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely to apply. That doesn’t mean you’re without support, though. Your airline should still provide care and assistance during long delays, including meals, refreshments, accommodation if you’re stranded overnight, and rebooking or a refund where relevant.

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