Catania International Airport halted all arriving and departing flights on Monday following the release of volcanic ash from nearby Mount Etna. The airport authority announced that operations would remain suspended until 22:00 on Tuesday. The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory issued a red-level aviation alert in response to ongoing volcanic activity.
This marks the second significant disruption at the facility in recent months. The airport, located on the island of Sicily, had previously closed for nearly a week during the summer season due to volcanic emissions from Etna. Catania serves approximately 12 million passengers annually and ranks as Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger volume. Airport officials advised travelers scheduled to depart from the facility to contact their airlines for updated information before heading to the terminal.
Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, sits approximately 40 kilometers from the airport and erupts with considerable frequency. Its 3,324-meter height makes it one of Europe’s most prominent geological features. The repeated disruptions have prompted discussion among officials about the airport’s operational viability given its proximity to the active volcano, with some advocates calling for the facility’s relocation and expansion of alternative infrastructure elsewhere in Sicily.
Despite the challenges posed by volcanic activity, Etna continues to attract considerable public interest. The volcano draws approximately 1.5 million visitors annually, and recent eruptions have prompted large gatherings of observers interested in witnessing the lava flows firsthand.
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