The northern-eastern crater of Mount Etna entered a new explosive phase early on 26 September, sending a 4-kilometre-high ash plume over eastern Sicily and forcing Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) to suspend all incoming flights until at least 16:00. The airport’s crisis unit activated the “Sector C1” no-fly zone, reducing landing slots to zero while allowing limited departures under visual-flight-rules corridors. The Italian Civil Protection Department elevated the volcano’s VONA alert to “Red”, the highest aviation-warning level, following advisories from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV-Catania). Airlines including ITA Airways, Ryanair and Wizz Air have begun rerouting Sicily-bound services to Palermo or Lamezia Terme and are offering free date changes. For mobility managers, the disruption has ripple effects: CTA handles more than 200 international flights a day and is a primary entry point for offshore energy and agribusiness projects in the region. With the nearby A18 motorway frequently closed for ash-clearing, overland transfers to Palermo can exceed three hours, and hotel capacity in Catania’s business district is limited. Companies should instruct travelling staff to keep boarding passes and receipts for reimbursement under EU261, and to monitor further NOTAMs, as Etna’s activity often oscillates over 24–48 hours. Freight forwarders moving perishable goods through CTA’s cargo village should switch to Palermo or schedule overnight trucking to mainland airports. Etna’s renewed volatility is also a reminder that Sicily’s “dual-hazard” environment—seismic and volcanic—can suddenly complicate relocation projects. Firms with expatriate families in the Catania metro area should verify that evacuation plans and communication trees are current and that home-contents insurance includes volcanic-ash clauses, which some Italian insurers treat as optional riders.
Source: ItalyFlash
