Flights at Catania airport in Sicily faced another halt on Wednesday due to fresh ash emissions from Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. Authorities extended airspace restrictions, disrupting travel during the peak summer holiday season. The impact of the recent eruption extended beyond Sicily, causing flight cancellations and significant delays in neighboring Malta as volcanic ash drifted south across the Mediterranean.
Mount Etna frequently disrupts operations at Catania airport, the main gateway to Sicily and Italy’s fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic. Recent volcanic activities have significantly affected travelers, with images capturing lava flows and smoke rising from the crater during the eruptions on July 5 and 6.
Satellite imagery depicted smoke spreading from Mount Etna, while drone footage showed lava flowing down a slope during Tuesday’s eruption. Travel disruptions have plagued eastern Sicily since last week, when renewed volcanic activity and shifting winds carried ash across the region, leading to stranded passengers awaiting updates at the airport terminal following the closure of Catania airport due to the ash cloud from Etna.
Although conditions seemed to be improving on Wednesday, Malta International Airport continued to caution passengers about potential disruptions. The prolonged restrictions at Catania have increased pressure on other airports in Sicily. Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla mentioned that the city’s airport had accommodated 190 flights that were originally scheduled to operate through Catania in recent days. Comiso airport, a smaller facility south of Catania, which had been handling tourist season traffic, resumed full operations after suspending flights on Tuesday evening due to ash from Mount Etna.