Flights at Catania airport in Sicily faced another suspension on Wednesday due to fresh ash emissions from Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. This led to extended airspace restrictions, causing travel disruptions during the busy summer holiday season. The effects of the eruption were not limited to Sicily, as neighboring Malta experienced flight cancellations and significant delays due to volcanic ash drifting south across the Mediterranean.
Mount Etna frequently impacts operations at Catania airport, the main gateway to Sicily and the fifth busiest airport in Italy based on passenger traffic. Recent volcanic activities have once again disrupted travelers in the region. Images captured during the eruption on July 5 and 6 show lava flow and smoke rising from the crater.
Satellite imagery from Tuesday depicts smoke spreading from Mount Etna, while a drone view shows lava flowing down a slope during the eruption on the same day. Travel disruptions have affected eastern Sicily since the previous week, with ash clouds from Etna causing closures at Catania airport. Stranded passengers were seen waiting at the terminal following the airport shutdown.
Although conditions seemed to improve 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 Palermo’s airport had accommodated 190 flights originally intended for Catania in recent days. Comiso airport, a smaller facility south of Catania, resumed full operations after briefly suspending flights on Tuesday evening due to ash fallout from Mount Etna.
