Catania Airport: Hundreds Of Flight Cancelled Or Diverted After Fire Breaks Out

Full details on cancellations, alternative airports in Sicily and how to get a refund.

Flights at Catania airport, on the southern Italian island of Sicily, are severely disrupted after damage to one of the terminals.

A fire broke out at Catania's Vincenzo Bellini International Airport on Sunday night. Firefighters were called to put out the blaze and the airport was evacuated. 

Nobody was injured but there are reports of people being treated for smoke inhalation and shock.

The airport serves 91 destinations of which 24 are domestic, according to ItaliaRimborso.

Catania airport: Flights cancelled or moved to other airports

Airport authorities announced yesterday that flights would suspended until Wednesday at 2pm, with almost 120,000 passengers predicted to be affected.

But they have managed to get the airport working faster than predicted. As of Tuesday morning, two flights are departing per hour.

Some incoming flights are being diverted to other airports in Sicily such as Palermo, Trapani and Comiso.

Comiso airport is a two-hour drive from Catania airport; both are on the east of the island. Whereas Palermo and Trapani are on the west of the island therefore four-five hours drive from Catania.

Free trains and buses are being provided between Catania airport and the airports where flights are being diverted to, such as Palermo, Comiso and Trapani. Information on this transport is being provided to passengers at airports and on incoming and outbound flights.

How to travel between Sicily's airports

Along with the free transport being provided by the airports, Alibus has increased the frequency of its shuttle buses between Catania airport and the city centre. These will also stop at Catania's main train station.

Trenitalia has increased the frequency of trains between Catania and Palermo airports.

Can you get to Sicily by train or ferry?

In short, yes.

On the east of the island, where Catania is, there are trains from Siracusa, a 1-hour drive from Catania, that take you to the Italian mainland where you can then connect to international trains.

There are also ferries from Palermo to Naples and Genova. Check GNV.it for more information on ferry routes. 

Rome2Rio is an excellent travel planning website.

Catania airport: What should passengers do?

If you are due to fly into or out of Catania airport, the first step is to contact your airline or booking agent to find out if your flight is running.

This can be done via their website, app, email, phone or social media channels such as official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Airlines are advising passengers to check their apps for flight information and updates.

Wizz Air have issued a statement to passengers saying: "All affected passengers are being informed about the schedule changes, offered refund and rebooking options as well as hotel accommodation. Wizz Air will be keeping passengers informed via SMS/email about their flight’s status on 18th and 19th of July."

Italy's ITA Airways is rerouting some flights to Comiso airport, also on the east coast of Sicily. It has advised passengers to "check your flight status on Flight Info before travelling to the airport."

Ryanair have said: "All passengers who have been affected by a cancellation or an airport change will be notified of their options." They have also advised passengers to check the Ryanair app for updates.

Other European airlines have been contacted for comment.

How have passengers reacted?

Travellers are taking to social media to express their discontent.

Many have said they have not received news on what is happening with their flights, with some saying they are waiting on hold on customer service phone lines for upwards of an hour with no response.

One female user took to Twitter after being stuck in Sicily since Saturday, when their Easyjet flight was cancelled. Adults in her group are now running out of medications. She tweeted Wizzair to ask whether their 2.45pm flight out of Catania on Wednesday will run, given that the airport is not due to re-open until 2pm.

Another user has pointed out that tickets for flights out of Catania on Tuesday are still onsale via Ryanair's website.

Sicily is at the centre of European 'heat storm'

Italy is currently in the grips of a major heatwave. Palermo, Sicily's biggest city, is one of 20 Italian cities with heat warnings in place. Temperatures are forecast to rise to 48°C later this week.

Watch the video above to see more about Catania airport being closed.

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