The Catania Airport will remain closed until 16 pm on Thursday, August 13th.The eruption of theEtna The presence of volcanic ash continues to hinder flight operations, forcing Fontanarossa Airport to extend its suspension of arrivals and departures. The decision comes after days of significant disruption for thousands of passengers and hundreds of canceled, delayed, or diverted flights.
Catania Airport closed, flights suspended until Thursday. Comiso reopens.
The situation remains linked to the evolution of the ash cloud produced by Etna. Bags, the company that manages the Catania and Comiso airports, continues to monitor airspace conditions and maintains readiness to gradually resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so. Therefore, reopening is not automatic at 6:00 PM: the time indicated represents the current suspension deadline and may be modified based on the evolution of volcanic activity and the instructions of the competent authorities.
The novelty instead concerns theairport Comiso, which has returned to operation after being temporarily affected by volcanic ash itself. The airport, managed by SAC itself, is one of the alternative airports used to redistribute part of Catania's traffic. Comiso had been forced to suspend operations due to the ash cloud, but was reopened after conditions improved. Its reactivation allows for the recovery of part of the island's airport capacity just as Fontanarossa remains closed.
The problem, however, remains the difference in capacity between the two ports: Comiso it cannot absorb the traffic by itself normally managed from Catania. For this reason, during the emergency, the airports of Palermo e Trapani to accommodate the diverted flights.
Hundreds of flights cancelled and diverted
Between August 8th and 11th in Catania they would have been at least 388 departing flights cancelled, equal to 55% of those scheduled. Another 212 incoming flights, approximately 30% of the total scheduled, were unable to land at the Catania airport. Dozens of planes were therefore diverted to other Sicilian airports, particularly Palermo and Comiso. At Falcone-Borsellino Airport alone, approximately 190 flights have reportedly been diverted in the last four days, affecting more than 30 passengers. Among the companies most affected by the changes Ryanair, easyJet, Ita Airways and Wizz Air are among the airlines with the largest number of connections to Catania airport.
However, the situation remains linked to theevolution of the eruptionSAC, the company that manages the Catania and Comiso airports, explained that "operations continue to be severely impacted by the unpredictability of eruptive activity" and that "safety of operations remains the overriding criterion underlying every decision." The company also noted that management of individual flights remains in the hands of the airlines. "Individual airlines are solely responsible for managing their flights, including any cancellations, delays, diversions, or rescheduling, and for providing assistance and re-routing to their passengers," SAC stated.
Canceled flights to Mount Etna: what passengers are entitled to
For those who find themselves with a cancelled, delayed or diverted flight, the main distinction concerns the reason for interruptionA volcanic eruption and the resulting closure of airspace fall within the exceptional circumstances envisaged by European regulations. This means that, generally speaking, no financial compensation is due A flat rate is applicable in other cases of cancellation or significant delay attributable to the airline. However, other passenger rights remain valid.
Il carrier must guarantee free assistance, which includes meals and drinks proportionate to the waiting time and, when necessary, hotel accommodations. Transfers between the airport and the hotel must also be guaranteed, as must the ability to communicate. If the airline is unable to provide these services directly and the traveler is forced to pay out of pocket, the necessary, reasonable, and documented expenses can be requested from the carrier. It is therefore essential to retain receipts, bills, and invoices. Even in the event of hijacking towards another airport The airline remains responsible for arranging the transfer to the originally scheduled stopover, or to a nearby destination agreed upon with the passenger. If this service is not provided and the traveler must arrange their own transportation by train, bus, or taxi, they may subsequently request reimbursement of the expenses incurred.
Unions call for more investment in Sicilian airports
The emergency has also rekindled the comparison of airport network capacity Sicilian airport to absorb situations of this kind. Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uiltrasporti Sicilia, and Ugl TA have denounced the difficulties faced by both travelers and staff: "Flights canceled and diverted, passengers waiting, workers exhausted. What is happening right now at the Catania airport is not a fatality: it is the consequence of years of short-sighted decisions regarding investments and personnel," the unions stated. The organizations they ask for more resources, more staff and above all more efficient land connections between the island's airports, underlining how the transfer of dozens of flights to Palermo and other airports ends up rapidly increasing the workload.
The Etna emergency thus enters its fifth day with the situation still uncertain. The reopening of Catania and Comiso remains scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on August 12, but the actual resumption of operations will depend on the evolution of volcanic activity, ash dispersion, and wind conditions. Passengers are therefore advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before arriving at the airport.
Last updated Wednesday, August 12, at 15:27 PM
