A fresh eruption of Mount Etna has disrupted flights at Catania Airport in Sicily, with arriving aircraft temporarily suspended on Monday 10 August after volcanic ash drifted into the surrounding airspace.
Airport operator SAC initially restricted inbound traffic before suspending all arrivals until 5:00 pm local time. The measure followed the closure of a section of airspace southwest of the volcano due to the presence of volcanic ash. Departing flights were not included in the suspension.
“As the situation is significantly affecting operations, passengers are kindly advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before heading to the airport,” SAC said, adding that conditions were being continuously monitored and further measures would depend on the evolution of the eruption and weather conditions.
Dozens of flights operated by airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, ITA Airways and Wizz Air had been scheduled at Catania on Monday. Before arrivals were fully suspended, inbound traffic had been limited to a maximum of five landings per hour.
The latest eruptive phase was continuing from vents at altitudes of around 2,750 metres and 2,360 metres, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Several lava flows were feeding extensive lava fields, while volcanic ash represented the main concern for aviation.
INGV’s Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation remained at red, the highest aviation colour code, indicating an ongoing hazard to aircraft from volcanic emissions. Volcanic ash can pose a serious risk to aircraft by reducing visibility and potentially damaging engines and other components.
Catania is Sicily’s busiest airport and Italy’s fifth busiest by passenger traffic, making disruption caused by Mount Etna particularly significant during the summer travel season. Located on Sicily’s east coast, Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and its eruptions have repeatedly affected flights serving the region.
@toni.palermo.unde #catania #etna #vulcano #eruption #sicily ♬ Hey You – Pink Floyd
The latest disruption comes just over a month after another eruption forced Catania Airport to suspend operations. On 6 July, all arriving and departing flights were halted after ash entered the airspace, leading to cancellations and diversions across Sicily. Travel Tomorrow reported at the time that around 130 flights had been cancelled and approximately 50 diverted, with Palermo, Comiso and Trapani among the airports receiving redirected aircraft.
Palermo Airport, on Sicily’s northwestern coast, appeared to be operating normally during Monday’s latest disruption.
Passengers travelling through Catania are advised to check directly with their airline before travelling to the airport, as flight schedules can change quickly depending on volcanic activity, the movement of the ash cloud and weather conditions.
