When Etna hurls ash into the sky, the airspace above Catania is closed, sometimes several times a year, and almost always precisely when Sicily is full of holidaymakers. This page shows the current alert level and answers the questions that tend to arise at such moments.
Current status of Mount Etna
Report of August 6, 2026
Aviation alert level
Yellow
Elevated activity without an ash plume. Flights operate normally.
- Reporting period
- July 30 – August 5, 2026
- Height of the ash plume
- 7 km
- Red level reached
- yes, during the reporting period
Whether your flight departs is something your airline will tell you. Catania Airport publishes its own official status: aeroporto.catania.it
The Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV) reported eruptive activity at Etna’s summit craters during 27 July-2 August characterized by sporadic explosive activity and ash emissions at Northeast Crater (NEC) and Bocca Nuova Crater (BN), Strombolian activity and lava effusion at Voragine Crater (VOR), and gas emissions at Southeast Crater. Strombolian activity began at VOR at 0330 on 30 July.
Weekly report, not a live flight status · Source: Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program · Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, Sezione di Catania - Osservatorio Etneo (INGV)
Why volcanic ash brings flights to a halt
Volcanic ash consists of fine particles of rock and glass. Should it enter a jet engine, it melts on the hot turbine blades and solidifies as a glassy coating, which in the worst case causes the engine to fail. Aviation therefore follows a simple rule: where ash is present in the air, aircraft do not fly.
The decision does not rest with the airport alone. The Osservatorio Etneo of the INGV in Catania monitors the volcano around the clock and, during eruptions, issues a notice to the aviation sector known as a VONA. This contains the Aviation Colour Code, either green, yellow, orange or red. A red code indicates ash in the atmosphere, at which point the airspace in the affected wind direction is closed.
How often Catania is affected
More often than many people expect, and almost always during the holiday season. In 2024, the airport was forced to close in both July and August. In June 2025, an ash column several kilometres high triggered a red alert. In 2026, Sicily was affected twice within five weeks: from 5 to 7 July, and again on 7 and 8 August, when all arrivals were suspended until midday and three aircraft had to be diverted.
Closures rarely last longer than a day. Once the wind carries the ash cloud away or the eruption subsides, the alert level is downgraded and operations resume. The real problem is less the duration than the knock-on effect: half a day without landings disrupts flight schedules well into the following day.
Your flight has been cancelled, what applies now
A volcanic eruption constitutes an extraordinary circumstance. This means the airline is not required to pay compensation under the EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation, as would be the case with a delay caused by the airline itself. However, the remaining obligations still apply, and they are substantial.
The airline must rebook passengers free of charge or refund the ticket price, and passengers may choose which they prefer. While waiting, the airline is obliged to provide meals and refreshments, and if an overnight stay becomes necessary, accommodation in a hotel including transfers. It is advisable to keep all receipts and to submit any costs in writing if no assistance is offered at the desk. Those who rebook independently without first giving the airline the opportunity to do so are likely to be left covering the difference themselves.
Getting out of Sicily when Catania is at a standstill
The nearest alternative airport is Palermo on the north coast, roughly three hours from Catania by bus or train. During major disruptions, Trenitalia puts on additional services and bus operators increase capacity on the route, both of which are worth checking before hiring a car for a one-way journey.
Comiso in the south-east is also served by certain airlines and offers an alternative for those staying in the area around Ragusa or Siracusa. For those with time to spare, the ferry from Messina to the mainland followed by a train connection is another option.
Is an eruption dangerous on the ground?
For holidaymakers in the towns, practically never. Etna's lava flows typically remain within the uninhabited summit regions and the Valle del Bove, a large volcanic depression with no settlements. What does reach inhabited areas is fine ash: it settles on cars and balconies, makes roads slippery and, in larger quantities, irritates the airways. The authorities then close mountain roads and temporarily ban two-wheeled vehicles.
Walks and cable-car trips on the volcano itself are suspended during periods of heightened activity. Those with a tour booked should contact the operator directly, as access rules change with the alert level, often from one day to the next.
