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 disruptions during the peak summer holiday season. The impact of the recent eruption reached beyond Sicily, affecting neighboring Malta with flight cancellations and significant delays as volcanic ash drifted south across the Mediterranean.
Mount Etna often disrupts operations at Catania airport, the main gateway to Sicily and the fifth busiest airport in Italy in terms of passenger traffic. The recent volcanic activities have had a significant impact on travelers. Images captured during the eruption on July 5 and 6 show lava flows and smoke rising from the crater.
Satellite imagery from Tuesday shows the smoke spreading from Mount Etna. A drone view captured lava flowing down a slope during the eruption. Travel disruptions have been ongoing in eastern Sicily since last week, following renewed volcanic activity and changing winds that carried ash across the region, leading to stranded passengers at Catania airport.
While conditions seemed to improve on Wednesday, Malta International Airport continued to caution passengers about potential disruptions. The prolonged restrictions at Catania have resulted in added pressure on other airports in Sicily. Palermo’s airport accommodated 190 flights originally destined for Catania, while Comiso airport, south of Catania, which also handled tourist traffic, resumed full operations after suspending flights due to ash from Mount Etna.