Etna ash cloud grounds flights at Catania airport, Berlin connection cancelled
Ash emissions from Mount Etna forced the closure of airspace around Catania airport on Sunday, leading to cancellations, delays, and diversions. A flight to Berlin was among those scrapped.
Eruption and ash cloud
In the early hours of Sunday, 5 July 2026, Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily began emitting ash from a summit vent. The activity intensified through the morning, and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that an eruption column rose to approximately 1.5 kilometres above the crater. Prevailing winds carried the ash plume southward, directly into the approach and departure paths of Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, the busiest air gateway to eastern Sicily. The INGV warned that weather models indicated the ash would continue to drift south for several more hours, prolonging the hazard.
- Ash emissions begin from a summit vent on Mount Etna.
- Eruption intensifies; ash cloud rises to 1.5 km above the crater and drifts south.
- Airspace closure in the affected sector ends.
- Landing restrictions ease; only five flights per hour were allowed until this time.
Flight disruptions
The airport operator, SAC, responded by closing the affected sector of airspace until 19:00 local time. After the closure lifted, a cap of five landings per hour remained in force until about 21:00, sharply reducing the airport's throughput. Both outbound and inbound flights were hit. A check of the airport's live departure board showed a string of cancellations, including a direct service to Berlin. Other aircraft managed to depart after lengthy delays, while several arriving flights were diverted to Palermo, on Sicily's north coast. For some routes, airlines were still assessing the situation, leaving passengers uncertain.
Passenger advice and airport response
SAC urged all travellers to verify their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport. The company said it would issue further updates as the day progressed. The terminal remained open, and ground staff worked to rebook passengers and arrange alternative transport for those diverted to Palermo. No damage to aircraft or airport infrastructure was reported, and there were no injuries. The disruption fell during the peak summer travel season, when Catania handles a high volume of tourist flights from across Europe.
Volcanic outlook
The INGV continued to monitor Etna's activity. Its forecast, based on current meteorological data, predicted that the ash cloud would persist in drifting south for the coming hours. The institute did not raise the alert level for communities on the volcano's slopes, and no evacuation orders were issued. Etna is one of Europe's most active volcanoes, and periodic ash emissions are a recognised risk for aviation in the central Mediterranean.
