by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:50 AM ET, Thu August 13, 2026
Volcanic ash spewing from Mount Etna in Catania, Sicily, is affecting flights to and from the Italian island this week, with impacts expected to continue through Friday.
Reuters reported that Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), is suspending service both in and out of Sicily through 2:00 a.m. local time on Friday, August 14, due to the ash, which clouds visibility. The flights have been impacted since Wednesday.
Marco Viccaro, president of the Italian Volcanological Association, warns that Etna’s newest activity is more energetic and has been sustained since August 6.
“This suggests that deeper, gas-rich magma is playing a more active role, making the fragmentation process more efficient and leading to increased ash production, which is severely disrupting air traffic to and from Catania airport,” said Viccaro.
According to FlightAware, CTA has canceled over 50 flights on August 13. That number is likely to rise. On August 12, there were around 90 cancellations. FlightAware hasn’t reported any major cancellations yet for Friday, August 14, though that is also likely to change.
Reuters also reported that on Tuesday, the ash was spreading over Malta, disrupting flights there before winds changed towards Sicily.
What To Do If You’re Impacted
Air travelers are encouraged to continue checking their flight status and local news before heading to the airport. Airlines should notify impacted travelers via email.
There may be options for rebooking, though that could be delayed until the ash blows away from the major air routes off the island, or stops altogether.
Smaller, regional airports across Sicily have been taking some of the flights that CTA cannot due to the ash. Stranded travelers should check for available flights at these nearby hubs.
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