Persistent ash emissions from Sicily’s Mount Etna have forced the closure of Catania’s airport for the fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of travellers during the height of the summer holiday season, according to reports from the Associated Press and Euronews. The shutdown at Sicily’s largest airport is the longest emergency of its kind since 2002, disrupting travel during the peak Ferragosto holiday week when millions of Italians typically leave cities for the coast and mountains.
Volcanic Ash Hazards Ground Flights Across Sicily
Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, has kept Catania’s airport shuttered to incoming and outgoing traffic, though flights were briefly able to depart over the weekend. According to the SAC airport operator, 36% of nearly 2,000 scheduled arrivals between August 6 and August 12 were cancelled. More than 600 flights were diverted to alternative Sicilian airports including Palermo, Trapani, and Comiso, as well as Lamezia Terme on the Italian mainland in Calabria. Comiso also experienced a brief closure due to the ash fallout.
Volcanic ash poses severe mechanical threats to commercial aircraft. Boris Behncke, a researcher at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory, explained that ash can be sucked into motors and force them to stall. This risk explains why aviation authorities exercise extreme caution during emissions. While Etna frequently disrupts local flight schedules from its location 30 kilometres (20 miles) south of the airport, Behncke noted that the current event stands out due to persistent summit emissions driven by northerly winds that have carried light ash amounts as far as Malta and northern Africa.
Passenger Impacts and Transport Alternatives
The Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that widespread flight rerouting caused a sharp spike in local taxi fares and car rental prices. In response to potential price gouging, the Codacons consumer association announced plans to file a formal complaint with Italy’s competition authority.
To help absorb the surge in displaced passengers, the Italian train company Trenitalia added six additional trains along the busy Palermo-Messina-Catania route. Meanwhile, the Italian federation of travel agencies and tour operators, FIAVET, called for a dedicated task force to coordinate responses to the ongoing volcanic disruptions. FIAVET President Gian Mario Pilieri stated that while operators are working around the clock to manage cancellations and alternative travel arrangements, they cannot bear the burden of structural shortcomings and management responsibilities of others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Catania’s airport closed?
According to the Associated Press, continuous volcanic ash emissions from Mount Etna have forced the closure of the airport to ensure flight safety, as ingested ash can cause aircraft engines to stall.
When is the airport expected to reopen?
Catania’s airport will remain closed until Saturday afternoon, coinciding with the Ferragosto holiday, provided volcanic activity permits safe operations.
How are travellers getting around the closure?
Airlines have diverted hundreds of flights to alternative airports in Palermo, Trapani, Comiso, and Lamezia Terme. Additionally, Trenitalia has added six extra trains along the Palermo-Messina-Catania route to ease travel pressures.
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