Flights were halted at Catania airport in Sicily once again on Wednesday due to new ash emissions from Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. This led to an extension of airspace restrictions, causing disruptions for travelers during the busy summer holiday season. The effects of the recent eruption were felt beyond Sicily, with flight cancellations and significant delays reported in neighboring Malta as volcanic ash drifted south across the Mediterranean.
Mount Etna frequently disrupts operations at Catania airport, which serves as Sicily’s primary gateway and is the fifth busiest airport in Italy in terms of passenger traffic. Recent volcanic activities have impacted travelers, with images capturing lava flow and smoke rising from the crater during the eruptions on July 5 and 6, respectively.
Satellite imagery depicted smoke spreading from Mount Etna on Tuesday, while drone footage showed lava flowing down a slope during the eruption. Travel disruptions have plagued eastern Sicily since last week, as renewed volcanic activity and changing winds carried ash across the region. Stranded passengers were seen waiting at the airport terminal following the closure of Catania airport due to the ash cloud from Etna on Monday.
Although conditions seemed to be improving on Wednesday, Malta International Airport continued to caution passengers about potential disruptions. The prolonged restrictions at Catania have also increased pressure on other airports in Sicily. Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla mentioned that the city’s airport had accommodated 190 flights originally bound for Catania in recent days. Additionally, Comiso airport, a smaller facility to the south of Catania, which has been handling tourist traffic, resumed full operations after temporarily suspending flights on Tuesday due to ash from Mount Etna.