Catania Airport, a major gateway in Sicily, was forced to suspend all arrivals and departures on Monday due to volcanic ash spewed from Mount Etna. The airport announced that flight operations would remain halted until 10 p.m. local time (9 p.m. UK time).
The Etna Volcano Observatory issued a red VONA (Volcano Observatory Notice to Aviation) alert for the ash cloud, which drifted towards the airport, prompting the closure. This marks the second disruption for Catania Airport this year, following a week-long closure in August during the peak summer season.
Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano, stands at 3,324 meters (nearly 11,000 feet). While the volcano frequently causes flight disruptions, ash emissions have been particularly frequent this summer, impacting thousands of travelers. The airport, which typically serves around 12 million passengers annually, was previously closed for five consecutive days in August due to an eruption, stranding numerous tourists. That closure was the longest since 2002.
The recent and ongoing ash emissions have intensified calls within Italy to either close Catania Airport or expand other hubs in Sicily due to its proximity to Etna, located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) away. Between August 6 and August 12, SAC reported that 36% of flights bound for Catania were cancelled, with over 600 flights diverted to alternative airports including Palermo, Trapani, Comiso, and Lamezia Terme.