Police at Catania’s Fontanarossa Airport disclosed on 29 December 2025 that they have charged a ramp agent with possession of stolen property after finding high-end sunglasses, perfumes and bundles of foreign currency in his locker. The haul followed a weeks-long investigation into a spike in missing items from checked luggage on flights between Sicily and northern Europe.
Security implications: While individual thefts are not new, the case underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in airport sterile areas and the importance of background checks and CCTV coverage. ENAC is likely to demand an audit of the handling company’s staff-screening procedures and may impose compliance deadlines ahead of the 2026 travel peak.
Impact on travellers and airlines: Carriers operating through Catania could face higher insurance premiums and be required to increase random ramp inspections, potentially delaying turnaround times. Travel managers should remind employees to keep electronics and valuables in carry-on baggage and to document contents of checked bags for insurance claims.
![Baggage-handler caught with passengers’ valuables in Catania airport raid]()
For travellers who also need to renew passports, secure Italian work permits or arrange letters of invitation, VisaHQ can take the administrative burden off internal travel desks; its Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) consolidates the latest entry rules and processes applications entirely online, allowing employees to focus on keeping valuables in carry-on and meeting tighter check-in cut-offs.
Corporate mobility perspective: Companies rotating engineers and technicians through Sicily’s semiconductor and renewable-energy projects rely heavily on the Catania hub. Strengthened security protocols may cause slight operational friction but could ultimately reduce loss-related costs.
Broader trend: Similar baggage-theft rings were uncovered this year at Naples and Bari. The Aviation Security Observatory has urged uniform minimum vetting standards across Italy’s 41 commercial airports to restore traveller confidence.
Security implications: While individual thefts are not new, the case underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in airport sterile areas and the importance of background checks and CCTV coverage. ENAC is likely to demand an audit of the handling company’s staff-screening procedures and may impose compliance deadlines ahead of the 2026 travel peak.
Impact on travellers and airlines: Carriers operating through Catania could face higher insurance premiums and be required to increase random ramp inspections, potentially delaying turnaround times. Travel managers should remind employees to keep electronics and valuables in carry-on baggage and to document contents of checked bags for insurance claims.
For travellers who also need to renew passports, secure Italian work permits or arrange letters of invitation, VisaHQ can take the administrative burden off internal travel desks; its Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) consolidates the latest entry rules and processes applications entirely online, allowing employees to focus on keeping valuables in carry-on and meeting tighter check-in cut-offs.
Corporate mobility perspective: Companies rotating engineers and technicians through Sicily’s semiconductor and renewable-energy projects rely heavily on the Catania hub. Strengthened security protocols may cause slight operational friction but could ultimately reduce loss-related costs.
Broader trend: Similar baggage-theft rings were uncovered this year at Naples and Bari. The Aviation Security Observatory has urged uniform minimum vetting standards across Italy’s 41 commercial airports to restore traveller confidence.
