Mount Etna Ash Forces Extended Closure of Catania Airport in Sicily
Impact and Ongoing Situation at Catania Airport
Flight Suspensions and Passenger Advisory
CATANIA, Sicily, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday because of ash from Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity, which has forced hundreds of flights to be cancelled or rerouted over the past week.
All arrivals at the island hub, Italy's fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, will be suspended through 8 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on August 14, airport operator SAC said in a statement on Thursday.
It had said on Wednesday that departures would be suspended until 2 a.m. local time on August 14. This information regarding departures was not updated on Thursday.
Passengers were advised to check the status of their flights with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
Effect on Summer Travel and Regional Airports
The prolonged restrictions come at the height of the summer holiday season, affecting thousands of passengers, and have placed additional pressure on Sicily's other airports.
Mount Etna’s Volcanic Activity and Airport Operations
Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano, frequently disrupts operations at Catania airport, whose operator launched the sale of a stake of at least 51% in May.
Expert Insights on the Current Eruption
Marco Viccaro, president of the Italian Volcanological Association, said the activity at Etna, which began on August 6, is more energetic than previous episodes and is continuing in a sustained way.
Increased Ash Production and Volcanic Dynamics
"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 added.
(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni and Gavin Jones; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
