Catania Airport in Sicily has reopened after being forced to shut due to a volcanic eruption from Mount Etna. The eruption caused flight cancellations, delays, and diversions, disrupting travel to and from the island. The majority of flights in and out of Catania airport were cancelled, causing significant chaos for travelers. Initially, the airport planned to reopen on Monday evening but remained closed until Tuesday morning.
Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano, and Italian authorities have declared a “pre-alert” phase, moving from warning level F0 to F1. The eruption occurred just before Italy’s biggest national holiday, Mid-August.
Catania airport, Sicily’s second largest airport, operates both domestic and international flights. It normally handles around 200 flights a day but had to close following the arrival of a flight from Casablanca. The airport, located around 50 km south of the volcano, advised passengers to check with their airlines for information about their flights.
During the closure, approximately 95% of flights were cancelled, with a few flights being diverted to other airports in Sicily. Sicily’s airports are spread out due to the island’s size. Catania and Comiso airports are on the east coast, while Palermo airport, the largest on the island, is on the west coast. Some flights were also being diverted to Trapani airport, which is a four-hour drive from Catania.
Unfortunately, Sicily does not have a reliable public transport system, making it difficult for stranded passengers to travel between airports. However, there are car hire companies available at all of Sicily’s airports.
Ryanair warned passengers traveling to and from Catania on August 14 to expect possible delays, diversions, or cancellations. EasyJet, the main airline flying from the UK to Catania, had to cancel flights from Bristol, Edinburgh, and Gatwick. They were diverting some flights to Comiso airport, a two-hour drive from Catania.
The eruption also affected Comiso airport, located around 150 km from Mount Etna, with delays reported on Monday morning. Air traffic heading to the island of Malta was also redirected to avoid the ash cloud from the eruption.
This disruption comes just days after Catania airport reopened following a major fire in one of its terminals in mid-July. The fire resulted in thousands of cancelled or diverted flights, causing many tourists to cancel their holidays. The slow and disorganized response from airport authorities received criticism, with hoteliers reporting around 40,000 lost nights of accommodation due to the travel disruption.
Passengers affected by the eruption and resulting flight disruptions may be entitled to meals and hotels, as per European air passenger rights. However, cancellations, delays, and disruptions could continue at short notice, especially if more eruptions occur. Travelers are advised to stay updated with their airlines for the latest information.