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Catania Airport Shuts Until 2 PM, Palermo Handles Extra Flights

7/7/2026

42 4 Full Breakdown

Left

Catania Airport Suspends

Palermo airport absorbed flights, handling 33 more than usual Sunday and expecting 17 Monday while Cosimo and Trapani received diversions.
Catania Airport suspended all arrivals and departures until 2 pm on Monday, 6 July, with Flight Radar 24 showing every inbound flight cancelled.
Passengers were urged to verify flight status immediately.
UK law requires airlines to provide accommodation and meals for cancelled flights.

Right

Etna Erupts

Mount Etna erupted again, sending ash 1.5 km high and prompting a Red Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation.
Italian aviation authorities suspended operations at Catania International Airport and redirected flights to Palermo.
Israir rebooked its Tel Aviv-Catania flight for Monday, provided hotel rooms, meals and shuttle transfers.
Authorities reported no injuries and said the eruption posed no immediate danger to nearby communities.

History

Historical Context

On 15 June 1991 Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines, sending an ash column over 30 km and releasing roughly 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide, which halted flights at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Today Etna’s 1.5 km plume in Italy forced ENAV to suspend Catania Airport, echoing the earlier volcanic-air-traffic disruptions and underscoring enduring contingency challenges.

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Catania Airport Suspends

Palermo airport absorbed flights, handling 33 more than usual Sunday and expecting 17 Monday while Cosimo and Trapani received diversions.
Catania Airport suspended all arrivals and departures until 2 pm on Monday, 6 July, with Flight Radar 24 showing every inbound flight cancelled.
Passengers were urged to verify flight status immediately.
UK law requires airlines to provide accommodation and meals for cancelled flights.

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