The Catania-Fontanarossa airport faces this Tuesday, September 15, a new day of disruptions due to the activity of Etna. The emissions of volcanic ash have forced the suspension of arrival and departure operations for a good part of the day.
The latest communication available from SAC, the managing company of the airport, established the suspension of operations until 2:30 PM due to the closure of sectors C1 and B3 of the airspace.
The situation may change depending on the evolution of the volcano and the movement of the ash, so travelers should check the status of their flight directly with their airline.
Is the Catania airport closed today?
The latest confirmed restriction this Tuesday states that arrival and departure operations remain suspended until 2:30 PM.
The measure is due to the emissions of volcanic ash from Etna and the direction of the prevailing winds at altitude.
This does not guarantee that all flights after that time can operate normally. The airport manager has announced that it will provide new updates.
Which flights are affected
The restrictions affect both flights that were supposed to land in Catania and those that were scheduled to depart from the Sicilian airport during the suspension period.
In addition to cancellations, some flights may be diverted or rescheduled from other airports.
The previous day shows the magnitude that the incident can reach. On Monday, 152 flights were affected, including cancellations, diversions, and rescheduling, according to the report published by local media.
How to know if my flight to Catania is canceled
SAC recommends passengers to check directly with their airline the status of the connection before heading to the airport.
The information may vary from one flight to another. Therefore, having a scheduled departure or arrival after the initially set time to lift the restrictions does not automatically mean that the flight will operate.
Airlines may need time to recover aircraft, crews, and schedules after several hours of suspension.
Why is the airport closed
The cause is the emission of volcanic ash from Etna and its movement through the atmosphere.
The situation has led to the closure of air sectors C1 and B3, temporarily preventing the usual operations of Fontanarossa.
The episode began to seriously affect the airport during Monday. The restrictions expanded to affect both arrivals and departures and have continued this Tuesday.
When does Catania airport open?
The reference of 2:30 PM should not be interpreted as a guaranteed definitive reopening.
It is the time until which the last confirmed suspension was extended. The reopening and complete recovery of flights will depend on the evolution of the emissions from Etna, the ash present in the airspace, and the decisions of the aviation authorities.
Therefore, those planning to fly this Tuesday to or from Catania should check their flight before starting the journey to the airport, even if it is scheduled after 2:30 PM.