Catania Airport closure extended until early Friday as Mount Etna ash disrupts hundreds of flights
Catania Airport on the Italian island of Sicily remains closed due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna, with authorities extending the shutdown until at least 2 a.m. Friday, according to the airport operator. The closure, initially set to lift at 4 p.m. Thursday, marks the latest in a series of delays caused by Europe’s most active volcano, which has disrupted air travel for days.
Since the eruption intensified last Friday, around 700 flights have been affected, with 450 canceled and 250 diverted to other Sicilian airports, including Palermo and Comiso, according to local authorities. The disruptions have left thousands of travelers stranded, with many reporting chaotic conditions, overbooked trains, and exorbitant taxi fares—some as high as €700 for a shuttle to Palermo, as noted by Italian actor Filippo Laganà in a social media post.
The ash cloud has also impacted flights beyond Sicily. Malta International Airport warned of significant delays and cancellations after ash drifted south over the Mediterranean, though conditions later improved. Palermo’s airport has absorbed 190 diverted flights, straining ground transport as passengers scramble for buses, taxis, or ferries to the Italian mainland.
Mount Etna, standing over 3,300 meters, has been emitting ash and lava for days, prompting Italy’s highest aviation warning level for Catania. The Italian Institute for Geophysics and Vulkanology reported increasing lava flows, while authorities continue to monitor wind direction and ash concentration to determine when the airport can reopen. Some tourists, undeterred by the risks, have flocked to view the eruption, with local guides warning of hazards after a young couple required rescue after losing their way near the lava flows.
Passengers are advised to check with airlines for flight updates, as further extensions of the closure remain possible. The repeated shutdowns have reignited debates about diversifying air traffic across Sicily’s airports, with experts suggesting improved rail and road links could ease future disruptions.
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Streikefare på flyplassene Fristen gikk ut midnatt. Nå megler partene på overtid om flyavtalen.
aftenposten · about 1 hour ago
Vulkan: Aschewolke von Ätna - Flughafen von Catania bleibt dicht Wegen anhaltender Vulkanasche vom Ätna in der Luft bleibt der Flughafen von Catania auf Sizilien geschlossen. Reisende müssen mit weiteren Ausfällen und Umleitungen rechnen.
tagesspiegel · about 2 hours ago
Chez easyJet, la grève des personnels de cabine français en plein week-end du 15 août pourrait être très suivie Les syndicats des hôtesses et stewards de la compagnie à bas coût en France appellent à un arrêt de travail, samedi et dimanche, après léchec de discussions, mercredi, avec la direction sur lamélioration des conditions de travail.
le monde · about 2 hours ago
Tourists rush to Mount Etna as Italian volcano erupts. The tallest active volcano in Europe, Etna has been spewing ash and lava for days u.afp.com/SHhw
bluesky_AFP English · about 3 hours ago
Aschewolke von Ätna: Flughafen von Catania bleibt dicht
orf.at · about 3 hours ago
Cenușa vulcanului Etna închide aeroportul din Catania. Mii de turiști, afectați în plin sezon estival Activitatea vulcanică de la Muntele Etna continuă să facă probleme traficului aerian din Sicilia. Zborurile de pe aeroportul din Catania au fost suspendate din nou miercuri, după ce noi emisii de cenușă vulcanică au determinat autoritățile să prelungească restricțiile asupra spațiului aerian.
adevarul · about 3 hours ago
Fortsatt fare for streik på flyplassene - mekler på overtid Da fristen for å bli enige i meklingen for ansatte i bakketjenester på flyplassene, hadde partene fortsatt ikke kommet…
aftenposten · about 3 hours ago
Gedränge am Ätna: Vulkanausbruch lockt Besuchermassen an In Sandalen zum Lava-Spektakel: Viele Besucher, die keine Führung buchen konnten, machen sich auf eigene Faust auf den Weg. Bergführer warnen vor Alleingängen.
faz · about 4 hours ago
«Certains sont en tongs» : malgré les risques, léruption de lEtna en Sicile attire les touristes Des milliers de curieux cherchent à se rapprocher des coulées de lave autour du plus haut volcan actif dEurope. Les guides locaux alertent sur le danger de certaines pratiques.
liberation · about 7 hours ago
Nach Vulkanausbruch: Tausende Reisende sitzen immer noch auf Sizilien fest Auf Sizilien legt der Ätna immer noch den Flugverkehr lahm. Mittlerweile ist auch Malta betroffen. Während manche um eine Schlafmöglichkeit bangen, pilgern andere auf den aktiven Vulkan.
faz · about 7 hours ago
Vulkan: Ätna-Ausbruch: Sperre für Flughafen abermals verlängert Der Ätna spuckt weiter Asche, der Flughafen von Catania bleibt dicht. Die Sperre wurde am Abend erneut verlängert. Für Reisende auf Sizilien geht das Flugchaos weiter.
tagesspiegel · about 7 hours ago
Vulkanausbruch auf Sizilien: Ätna-Ausbruch beeinträchtigt weiterhin Flugverkehr auf Sizilien Seit Tagen spuckt Europas aktivster Vulkan Lava und Asche aus. Das hat auch Folgen für den nahegelegenen Flughafen Catania. Dessen Sperrung wird bis Freitag verlängert.
die zeit · about 7 hours ago
MAE: Toate zborurile de pe Aeroportul din Catania din Sicilia au fost suspendate din cauza erupţiei vulcanului Etna Ministerul român al Afacerilor Externe (MAE) avertizează cetăţenii români care se află, tranzitează sau intenţionează să călătorească în regiunea italiană Sicilia că toate zborurile de pe Aeroportul din Catania au fost suspendate, după erupţia vulcanului Etna. Reluarea operaţiunilor aeriene depinde de evoluţia activităţii vulcanice şi de condiţiile meteorologice. De asemenea, se înregistrează întârzieri şi anulări către şi dinspre Aeroportul Comiso şi Aeroportul Internaţional Malta, precizează sursa citată.
digi24 · about 7 hours ago
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la vanguardia · about 8 hours ago
Vliegverkeer van en naar Catania ligt opnieuw stil door uitbarsting Etna Het vliegverkeer van Catania, op het Italiaanse eiland Sicilië, ligt tot zeker donderdagmiddag 16.00 uur stil na een uitbarsting van de vulkaan Etna. Veel vluchten zijn geannuleerd of worden omgeleid naar andere luchthavens op het eiland.
nu.nl · about 8 hours ago