Flights at Catania airport in Sicily faced suspension once again on Wednesday due to new 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 was not limited to Sicily, as neighboring Malta experienced flight cancellations and significant delays as volcanic ash drifted south across the Mediterranean.
Mount Etna frequently affects 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 continued to impact travelers, with lava flowing and smoke rising from the crater during eruptions on July 5 and 6, as depicted in the accompanying images.
Satellite imagery captured smoke spreading from Mount Etna, while a drone view showed lava flowing down a slope during an eruption. Travel disruptions have persisted in eastern Sicily since last week due to renewed volcanic activity and changing winds carrying ash across the region, leading to stranded passengers at the terminal following the closure of Catania airport.
Although conditions seemed to improve on Wednesday, Malta International Airport maintained warnings of potential disruptions. The prolonged restrictions at Catania have resulted in other airports in Sicily experiencing added pressure. Palermo’s airport handled 190 flights that were initially scheduled for Catania, while Comiso airport, a smaller facility south of Catania, resumed full operations after temporarily suspending flights on Tuesday evening due to ash from Mount Etna.