Etna ash eruption disrupts flights at Sicily airport

By AAP Newswire

Jul 6, 2026

Flights to Catania Airport on Sicily have been disrupted due to large volumes of ash emitted from Mount Etna, the SAC airport operating company says.

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Airspace in a specific area affected by the ash cloud has been closed until 7pm on Sunday, SAC said.

The airport said that until about 9pm, only five flights per hour will be permitted to land at the airport.

The operating company called on passengers to check the status of their flights with the airlines before travelling to the airport.

According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), Etna began emitting ash early on Sunday morning.

The activity then increased and formed a cloud rising to about 1.5km above the peak.

The ash is expected to be carried southwards on the wind in the hours ahead, the INGV said.

Catania lies due south of Mount Etna.

The Catania Airport website showed a number of cancellations, with some flights delayed and others rerouted to Palermo.

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