Sunday, August 4, 2024 Mount Etna’s eruption has caused delays at Catania International Airport. Smoke from the eruption affects pilot visibility, leading to flight delays. Nearby towns are now covered in black volcanic ash following the eruption of the Voragine crater last night.
Catania, situated on Sicily’s east coast and at the foot of Mount Etna, currently limits arrivals to six per hour. Some departures also face delays. During previous eruptions, authorities diverted flights to other Sicilian airports like Palermo and Comiso.
However, it is uncertain if this will be the plan today. The airport management advises passengers to contact their airlines for flight information. Travelers should check airline apps, websites, and social media channels for updates.
Also, keep an eye on the email used for booking, as airlines or booking platforms may notify changes. Arrival boards indicate delays of 30 minutes to one hour for some flights. Most departures have taken off on time this morning, but congestion on runways could cause further delays.
Catania, Sicily’s most popular airport for international tourists, faces these issues at the peak of the summer season. At Catania International Airport, several flights have been canceled due to the ongoing eruption of Mount Etna. Among the canceled departures are FR2707 to Trieste at 3:50 PM, FR9638 to Prague at 2:35 PM, FR4857 to Rome at 1:00 PM, and EW2819 to Stuttgart at 9:10 AM.
All these flights, operated by Ryanair and Eurow.