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 travel disruptions during the peak summer holiday season. The impact of the recent eruption stretched beyond Sicily, affecting neighboring Malta with flight cancellations and significant delays 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 in the region, as showcased by images capturing lava flow and smoke rising from the crater during the eruption on July 5 and 6.
Satellite imagery depicted smoke spreading from Mount Etna on Tuesday, while a drone view captured lava flowing down a slope during the eruption on the same day. Travel disruptions have been ongoing in eastern Sicily since last week, following renewed volcanic activity and changing wind patterns that transported ash across the area.
Conditions seemed to be improving on Wednesday, although Malta International Airport continued to caution passengers about potential disruptions. The extended restrictions at Catania airport have led to increased pressure on other airports in Sicily. Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla mentioned that Palermo’s airport had accommodated 190 flights originally bound for 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.