Catania resumes flights after Etna warning lowered
The airport lifted restrictions after Italy’s volcano observatory lowered the aviation code from red to orange.
Catania Airport has lifted flight restrictions following Etna’s recent activity. Italy’s volcano observatory reported an orange aviation code on 28 September, after the code had previously been red because of ash in the atmosphere.
Fontanarossa Airport reported on Monday that the alert phase was over and normal status had been restored. The closed airspace sectors were reopened, and previously imposed restrictions were withdrawn with immediate effect, according to the airport.
The restriction followed the release of volcanic ash. The airport had earlier suspended flights to and from Catania until 23:59 on Monday. Ash particles can pose a risk to aircraft engines and therefore lead to operational restrictions when concentration levels and wind direction require them.
The observatory of Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, INGV, recorded a lowering of the aviation code to orange on 28 September. On 26 September, the code was red. The code is intended for aviation and describes the risk of volcanic activity affecting air traffic; it is not a simple prediction of how an eruption will develop.
The reopening therefore does not mean that Etna is considered inactive. The volcano is being monitored, and restrictions may be adjusted again if ash emissions, wind or other measurements give cause to do so. The INGV overview still contained current observations of thermal activity on 28 September.
For travellers, the situation remains practically uncertain. The airport advises passengers to check information from their airline before departure. A lower warning code reduces operational restrictions, but does not mean that every flight will depart according to schedule or that further disruption has been ruled out.
Catania is an important gateway to Sicily. A closure therefore affects arrivals, departures and any rebookings to other airports. For airlines, travel organisations and hotels, the difference between a full closure and a reopening is immediately noticeable, but the precise consequences depend on the individual flight plans.
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The airport’s operational status and the aviation code were checked with the airport operator and INGV. The text makes clear that reopening is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of stable air traffic.
- confirmed Catania reported the end of the alert phase and full restoration of services on 28 September. — This appears on the airport’s news index. source
- confirmed The aviation code for Etna was orange on 28 September. — The INGV VONA list records an orange code on 28 September. source
- confirmed The code was red on 26 September. — The same INGV list records red on 26 September. source
- confirmed Flights had previously been suspended because of volcanic ash. — The airport reported the suspension until 23:59 on 28 September because of ash emissions. source
- uncertain New flight restrictions cannot be ruled out. — This is a cautious inference from the ongoing monitoring and changing aviation code, not an announced new restriction. source
Editor's note
The reopening and the lowering from red to orange have been confirmed by the airport and INGV. The further course of the volcanic activity and possible new flight restrictions remain uncertain.Sources
- Aggiornamenti Etna: fine dello stato di allerta e ripristino completo dei servizi — Aeroporto Internazionale di Catania
- Volcano Observatory Notices for Aviation — Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
- Website INGV-OE - Etna — Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „etna catania”
- AD — „etna catania”
- de Volkskrant — „etna catania”