Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rerouted at Catania Airport over the past week as ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing eruption continues to disrupt air travel in Sicily.
All arrivals at Catania Airport, Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, were due to remain suspended until 08:00 local time on 14 August, airport operator Società Aeroporto Catania (SAC) said on Thursday.
SAC had previously said departures would be suspended until 02:00 on Friday but did not provide updated information on them on Thursday. Passengers were advised to check their flight status directly with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
The latest eruptive phase began on 6 August and has continued at a sustained level.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said on Monday that activity was continuing from vents at altitudes of 2,750 metres and 2,360 metres, feeding several lava flows and creating extensive lava fields.
The institute’s Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation remained at red, the highest alert level, indicating an ongoing risk to aircraft from ash emissions.
Marco Viccaro, president of the Italian Volcanological Association, said the current activity was more energetic than previous episodes.
“This suggests that deeper, gas-rich magma is playing a more active role, making the fragmentation process more efficient and leading to increased ash production,” he said.
Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, meaning eruptions are relatively frequent. Its eruptions rarely cause significant damage or injuries, although volcanic ash can pose a major risk to aviation.
The prolonged flight restrictions at Catania come during the peak summer holiday season, affecting thousands of passengers and placing additional pressure on Sicily’s other airports as travellers seek alternative routes.
Mount Etna frequently disrupts operations at Catania Airport because volcanic ash can threaten aircraft engines and reduce visibility.
Authorities continue to monitor the volcano and the concentration of ash in the surrounding airspace.
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