Flights were once again halted at Catania airport in Sicily on Wednesday due to fresh 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 vacation period. The effects of the recent eruption extended to neighboring Malta, where flight cancellations and significant delays were reported as volcanic ash drifted south across the Mediterranean.
Mount Etna frequently disrupts operations at Catania airport, which serves as Sicily’s primary gateway and ranks as Italy’s fifth busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic. Recent volcanic activities have significantly impacted travelers, with images capturing lava flows and smoke emanating from the volcano’s crater on July 5 and 6.
Satellite imagery depicted smoke spreading from Mount Etna on Tuesday, while drone footage captured lava flowing down a slope during an eruption. Travel disruptions in eastern Sicily began last week due to renewed volcanic activity and changing winds that carried ash across the region, leaving stranded passengers waiting at the terminal following Catania airport’s closure on Monday.
Although conditions seemed to improve on Wednesday, Malta International Airport continued to caution passengers about potential disruptions. The prolonged restrictions at Catania placed additional strain on Sicily’s other airports, with Palermo’s airport handling 190 flights originally destined for Catania in recent days. Comiso airport, a smaller facility south of Catania, resumed full operations after temporarily suspending flights on Tuesday due to ash from Mount Etna.