# Catania Airport Reopens After Three-Day Mt. Etna Shutdown **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Catania Airport (SAC) | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Updated:** 2026-09-30 **Tags:** Catania, Ätna, Vulkanasche, Flughafen, Luftfracht, Express, Sizilien, Flugausfall, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, LKW Transport, Digitalisierung, E-Commerce > After three days of standstill, Catania is flying again. Freight forwarders should continue to review stranded and rerouted shipments. --- Catania-Fontanarossa airport resumed normal flight operations on Monday evening, September 28. Due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna, takeoffs and landings had been suspended since Saturday. The airport operator stated that the alert status had been lifted and full operations restored. Volcanic ash poses a hazard to aviation. Fine particles can damage engines and sensors. This is why airspace is closed even when dramatic ash fall is not yet visible on the ground. Catania is primarily known as a passenger airport. However, the location remains relevant for cargo operations. Express packages, mail, spare parts, and other shipments frequently travel as belly cargo in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. When these flights are suspended, cargo capacity is also lost. After three days of disruption, the backlog does not disappear immediately. Shipments may have been rerouted via Rome, Milan, or Palermo. Previously confirmed bookings must also be re-established. Since Mount Etna remains active, further restrictions cannot be ruled out. For fresh fruit, fish, and other time-sensitive goods from Sicily, this can quickly become costly. Switching to truck and ferry transport requires additional transit time and available refrigerated vehicles. Consignees should therefore not promise new arrival dates based solely on the airport's reopening. --- Freight forwarders should check not only the airport status, but each individual air freight booking. For urgent shipments, Palermo, truck pre-carriage to the mainland, or other Italian gateways are possible alternatives. In short: Catania is open again, but backlogs and new ash warnings remain a risk. --- Catania was cut off from flight operations for three days. The cause was volcanic ash from Mount Etna. The airport reopened on the evening of September 28, 2026. Takeoffs and landings resumed operations. Volcanic ash can endanger engines and sensors. Belly cargo was affected by cancelled passenger flights. Residual ash may persist following the reopening. Further restrictions are possible if volcanic activity continues. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Italy](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/it) ### Airports - [Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/catania-fontanarossa-airport-cta) ### Glossary - [Booking](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/booking) - [Consignee](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/consignee) - [Freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight) - [Shipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipment) - [Freight forwarder](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarder) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/airport) - [Airborne](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/airborne) - [Airline Operations](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/airline-operations) - [Airspace](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/airspace) - [Refrigerated Vehicle / Reefer Truck](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/refrigerated-vehicle-reefer-truck) - [breakage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/breakage) - [TEU](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/teu) - [Belly Cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/belly-cargo) - [Vulkanasche](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/vulkanasche) - [Expressfracht](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/expressfracht) - [Flugumleitung](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/flugumleitung) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/flughafen-catania-nach-dreitaegigem-aetna-unterbruch-wieder-offen-20260929175743](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/flughafen-catania-nach-dreitaegigem-aetna-unterbruch-wieder-offen-20260929175743)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/flughafen-catania-nach-dreitaegigem-aetna-unterbruch-wieder-offen-20260929175743](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/flughafen-catania-nach-dreitaegigem-aetna-unterbruch-wieder-offen-20260929175743)*