Catania Airport, Italy: Flight diversions and cancellations due to Etna eruption

Passengers using Sicily’s busiest airport, Catania, are facing delays and cancellations due to the latest eruption of Mount Etna.

Europe’s highest active volcano has seen increased activity in recent days, with the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia in Catania reporting that ash had reached 4.3 kilometres in height.

Due to the eruption, part of the region’s airspace has been closed to commercial aircraft, meaning the rate of arrivals at Catania airport is much slower than usual, at just five per hour.

At least 90 return flights, representing around 15,000 passengers, have been cancelled. These include British Airways flights to and from London Gatwick and easyJet flights to Luton and Bristol.

EasyJet informs its passengers: “We are sorry that your flight has been cancelled. This is due to volcanic activity at CTA (Catania) which is causing restrictions in the areas in which aircraft are allowed to fly.

“Your safety and that of our crew is our top priority and we thank you for your understanding.”

The highest number of cancellations was recorded on Ryanair, with 42.

Many other passengers ended up on diverted flights, mainly to the airport serving Sicily’s capital, Palermo.

The Italian Civil Protection Department states: “Italy, together with Iceland, has the largest concentration of active volcanoes in Europe and is one of the first in the world for the number of inhabitants exposed to volcanic risk.

“Active or potentially active volcanoes are located in southern Italy with varying degrees of danger.

“Follow the instructions of the civil protection authorities transmitted by radio, television, in the daily press, on the internet and by the various toll-free numbers that will be set up.

“In the event of an eruption, it is also important to disregard the no-entry signs in the affected areas. It is dangerous to approach the crater area even if there is no eruptive activity, as sudden explosive phenomena or gas emissions are always possible.”

Under European air passenger rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled have the right to be transported to their final destination as soon as possible.

A year ago, scenes of chaos took place at Catania airport after a fire damaged part of a terminal.

For a time, flights from the UK were suspended because authorities were unable to check the passports of travellers arriving from outside the Schengen area.