Flights at Catania airport in Sicily were once again halted on Wednesday due to fresh ash emissions from Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. This led to an extension of airspace restrictions, disrupting travel during the busy summer vacation period. The effects of the recent eruption were not limited to Sicily, as neighboring Malta also experienced flight cancellations and significant delays overnight 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 significantly impacted travelers, with images capturing lava flow and smoke rising from the crater during the eruptions on July 5 and 6.
Satellite images displayed smoke dispersing from Mount Etna on Tuesday, while a drone view showcased lava streaming down a slope during the eruption. Travel disruptions have persisted in eastern Sicily since the previous week when increased volcanic activity and changing winds carried ash across the region, leading to stranded passengers waiting at the terminal following the airport closure due to the Etna ash cloud on Monday.
Although conditions seemed to have improved on Wednesday, Malta International Airport continued to caution passengers about potential disruptions. The continued restrictions at Catania have placed additional strain on other airports in Sicily. Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla mentioned that the city’s airport had accommodated 190 flights originally intended for Catania in recent days. Comiso airport, a smaller facility south of Catania, which had been assisting with the influx of tourist traffic, resumed full operations after suspending flights on Tuesday evening due to ash from Mount Etna.