Mount Etna Ash Cloud Grounds Flights at Catania Airport for Third Day

Flights at Catania Airport (CTA) remained suspended Monday for a third consecutive day following a fresh eruption of Mount Etna, which sent a heavy plume of volcanic ash across the region, grounded hundreds of flights, and topped global cancellation lists.

FlightAware shows CTA leading all global airports in flight disruptions on Monday, with 51 departure cancellations and 35 arrival cancellations.

SAC, the operator of Italy’s fifth-busiest airport, confirmed that all flight operations will stay halted through at least 9:59 p.m. GMT Monday (5:59 p.m. EDT). Ground officials and airport authorities are advising all travelers and travel advisors with clients flying into or out of Catania to check directly with their respective airlines before heading to the airport. Handling 10 million to 12 million passengers annually, CTA serves as Sicily’s primary hub and the main gateway to Southern Italy.

While Mount Etna is active year-round, volcanic activity typically peaks during the summer months, making flight disruptions a familiar operational challenge at the airport. When ash emissions are severe, incoming flights are routinely diverted to Palermo Airport (PMO) or Comiso Airport (CIY), requiring airlines to transfer affected passengers across the island via ground bus transportation