Sicily flights canceled and delayed after Mount Etna erupts
Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, erupted Sunday evening, forcing a slew of cancellations and delays of flights operating to and from Catania Airport (CTA) in Sicily, Italy.
The volcanic eruption has left services in and out of the airport suspended until 8 p.m. local time Monday.
Catania Airport is just 32 kilometers (about 20 miles) from Mount Etna.
Before Mount Etna's eruption, the airport was predicted to be the sixth-busiest airport in Italy on Monday, with 234 flights scheduled to depart and arrive — seven of which are return flights from the United Kingdom, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
A statement from CTA issued on X (formerly known as Twitter) read: "Due to Etna's eruptive activity and fallout of volcanic ash, flight operations are suspended until 08:00 pm."
The disruptions come just weeks after the airport was forced to temporarily close following a fire in mid-July, and arrive just one day before Italy's biggest national holiday, Ferragosto.
Flights scheduled to depart from the U.K. Monday morning with EasyJet are currently grounded and are expected to fall behind schedule by around nine hours, according to The Independent.
Ryanair has seen seven flights due to land at Catania on Monday morning diverted to Vincenzo Florio Civil Airport of Trapani — Birgi (TPS) in western Sicily.
British Airways, meanwhile, has canceled a flight planned for departure Monday to Catania.
"Due to the closure of Catania Airport, we've had to cancel our flight due to operate today," a British Airways spokesperson said. "We continue to monitor the situation and have been in contact with customers to apologise and offer options, including rebooking with us or another airline or a full refund."
Catania Airport was scheduled to see a total of 1,690 arrivals and departures this week, including 42 return departures from the U.K.
At least 46 flights to and from the airport have been canceled as of 12:30 p.m., according to FlightAware data, amounting to 36% of services in and out of the airport.
Related: 10 active volcanoes to see in your lifetime
CTA serves over 10 million passengers annually, and its Catania-to-Rome route is the busiest in Italy and second-busiest in Europe.
Mount Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes and Europe's largest, at over 11,000 feet tall. Its last major eruption was in 1922. Catania Airport was forced to close in May after runways were left covered in volcanic ash following an eruption.
On average, Etna erupts around 200 times per year, with most incidents causing only minor disruptions.
Related: Planning a trip to Italy? Here's how to get there on points and miles
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees