Mount Etna eruption closes Catania airport, grounding flights between Sicily and Poland

Eruption and airport closure

Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupted again on Monday 10 August, sending dense volcanic ash into the airspace around Catania airport on Sicily's eastern coast. The airport operator SAC announced a complete suspension of arrivals until at least 17:00 local time, closing the airspace corresponding to the ash cloud southwest of the volcano in sector C1. Catania is Sicily's main airport and the fifth busiest in Italy by passenger numbers, meaning even a brief closure affects thousands of travellers and carriers.

SAC issued a statement addressing the disruption.

Because this situation has a significant impact on the airport's operations, we kindly ask passengers to check the status of their flight with the airline before heading to the airport.

The operator noted that the situation is being monitored continuously, with further decisions dependent on the development of volcanic activity and weather conditions. Restrictions could extend beyond the initial 17:00 deadline.

Impact on Polish flights

The closure disrupted multiple flights between Sicily and Poland, affecting both tourists travelling to the island and those returning home. Two morning departures from Katowice were redirected to other Sicilian airports: a Wizz Air flight was diverted to Palermo and a Ryanair flight to Trapani. Return flights to Katowice-Pyrzowice were cancelled outright.

Additional cancellations followed as the morning progressed. Ryanair cancelled flights from Catania to Warsaw-Modlin and Katowice, and Wizz Air cancelled its Catania to Katowice-Pyrzowice service. Later flights remained uncertain, including a Wizz Air departure to Warsaw-Chopin scheduled for 16:55, a Ryanair flight to Krakow at 19:25, and a Wizz Air service to Wroclaw at 22:55. According to the newspaper Fakt, these connections' realisation depended primarily on conditions around Etna, and even if flights are restored, passengers should expect delays.

Volcanic activity and aviation alert

The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that several lava streams emerged from volcanic vents at elevations of 2750 and 2360 metres above sea level, forming extensive lava fields on the mountain's slopes.

The INGV's Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) remained at its highest level, red, indicating a continuing hazard to aircraft from airborne ash emissions. Etna, the highest and most active volcano in Europe, frequently disrupts air traffic at Catania. Similar ash-related problems were reported by travellers on Friday, when some were unable to fly out of Catania. On Sunday, only partial flights were operated at the airport. The volcano towers over Sicily's eastern coast and its eruptions regularly paralyze the island's primary aviation gateway. Sicily has become an increasingly popular destination for Polish tourists in recent years, partly due to the television series White Lotus, with many travellers stranded in Catania and surrounding areas.

What passengers should expect

Even if flights resume after 17:00, passengers were warned to expect delays. Airport authorities stressed that a temporary lull in volcanic activity does not guarantee a quick return to normal operations, as wind direction and ash dispersal determine when the airspace can safely reopen. Travellers were advised not to come to the terminal if their flight shows as cancelled, as they would not be able to depart regardless. The airport operator said further updates would be published depending on volcanic activity and weather conditions, and urged passengers to monitor airline websites and social media channels for the latest information.