Flights at Catania International Airport in Sicily have been suspended due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano. The airport announced that arrivals and departures, initially halted on Monday, would remain suspended until 10:00 PM local time on Tuesday.
The INGV Etneo Observatory issued a red aviation alert because of ongoing activity at the volcano. Catania, which is Italy's fifth-busiest airport, stated that further updates would be provided and advised passengers to check with their airlines.
This is the second time in recent months that the airport has ceased operations because of ash from Mount Etna. Last month, during the peak summer season, the airport was closed for nearly a week due to volcanic activity. Catania usually handles approximately 12 million passengers annually.
Mount Etna, standing at 3,324 meters (10,906 feet), is located about 25 miles from the airport. Despite the air traffic disruptions, eruptions have attracted onlookers, with an estimated 1.5 million people visiting the volcano each year.
There have been discussions regarding the airport's closure and the expansion of other facilities in Sicily due to its proximity to Mount Etna.