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Many flights are still being cancelled or diverted.
Almost two weeks on from a fire at Catania airport, on the southern Italian island of Sicily, the majority of flights are still being cancelled or diverted.
A temporary terminal has been built at the airport, set to open tomorrow, to increase how many passengers can be processed.
Authorities have been criticised for their slow response which is impacting Sicily’s tourism industry during the busiest months of the year. Dates for reopening have been announced then passed without improvements in the situation for the passengers.
If you are due to fly into or out of Catania, read on for advice from a journalist based in Sicily.
Catania airport: Flights cancelled or moved to other airports
The situation at Catania airport is creating difficulties for both inbound and outbound travellers.
10 flights are operating every hour from Catania airport (5 departing and 5 arriving meaning 50% of usual capacity. This number is set to increase to 14 from tomorrow (1 August).
If your flight is departing from Catania as planned, you are requested to arrive no more than three hours before your flight to avoid overcrowding.
Some airlines are proactively cancelling all flights, such as the UK’s Jet2 which has cancelled all flights in and out of Catania until 3 August.
While most airlines are diverting flights to other airports around Sicily. But many passengers are only being told where their flights leave from or land 10-12 hours before they are due to fly.
There have been mixed messages on when Terminal A, where the fire happened, will be operational again. There have been announcements from authorities of 2, 4 and 5 August for the reopening.
Catania airport: What is the situation like for passengers?
There have been reports in the Sicilian press of passengers having a difficult time at Catania airport.
At its worst, passengers are being made to queue outside in the heat to get into the airport. Instructions on flights and gates are given via a worker holding a megaphone.
When flights are delayed, it is very difficult to get information on when they will leave.
A doctor who had to fly out on urgent business recounted his experience to newspaper La Sicilia: “I found chaos at the airport. We have experienced moments of panic with hundreds of people crammed both inside and outside the spaces set up for emergencies. At 2pm on an afternoon in late July, with these days’ temperatures, I let you imagine. Treated like animals.”
Sicily’s president Renato Schifani has said that the airport’s management company has “done a good job in the Catania emergency.”
Where are Catania flights being diverted to?
Flights are being diverted to other airports in Sicily such as Palermo, Trapani and Comiso.
Palermo Airport briefly closed last week due to nearby wildfires but is now fully operational again.
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.
Comiso and Trapani airports are significantly smaller than Catania airport so they are reported to be struggling with the sudden increase in flights and passengers. They have been described as being “in chaos” and “under stress” as workers try to process 6-7,000 more passengers than usual.
It has also been reported that Sigonella, a military airport close to Catania, may also start to operate diverted flights.
How to travel between Sicily’s airports
Free shuttles are being provided between Catania and Palermo, Comiso and Trapani airports, where flights are being diverted to.
Catania airport is publishing the schedule for these buses on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. These schedules are usually published the night before for the following day.
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.
There are car hire companies at Sicily’s airports but these are likely to be overwhelmed with demand.
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 one-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 cancellations: 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.
If they contact you to say your flight will be diverted to another airport, you have the right to accept the change or request a refund – details should be given in their communication to you.
Bear in mind that there is likely to be a delay in receiving your refund as airlines will have many to process.
What is the advice from airlines?
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.”
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 has 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.
Jet2 has cancelled all flights in and out of Catania until 3 August.
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 received no news from airlines 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.
Others are angry at the lack of organisation and information at Catania airport.
Sicily is at the centre of European ‘heat storm’
Italy is currently in the grips of a major heatwave, likely induced by climate change. Palermo, Sicily’s biggest city, is one of 16 Italian cities with heat warnings in place. Temperatures reached 47.4°C in some areas on Monday but broke to a slightly milder 35C on Tuesday.
Watch the video above to see more about Catania airport being closed.
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