Catania Airport Resumes Flights After Mount Etna Aviation Alert Downgraded

MILAN: Sicily’s Catania Airport has resumed flight operations after authorities downgraded the aviation alert level for Mount Etna from red to orange, easing restrictions imposed following renewed volcanic activity.

The airport said on Saturday that both departing and arriving flights had resumed from 1200 GMT, shortly after the aviation alert was lowered. The airport had previously announced that all flights would remain suspended until 1300 GMT due to volcanic ash in the area.

Mount Etna’s recent eruptions have disrupted air travel across Sicily, with ash emissions forcing Catania Airport to cancel or divert hundreds of flights over the past week. Catania is Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic and a major gateway for tourists visiting eastern Sicily.

The prolonged disruption occurred during the peak summer holiday season, affecting thousands of passengers and placing additional pressure on other airports across the island. Between August 6 and 12, more than a third of the 1,974 flights scheduled at Catania were cancelled, while around 630 flights were diverted to other airports.

Volcanic ash poses a serious hazard to aviation because it can damage aircraft systems and potentially disrupt jet engines. Authorities therefore continue to monitor Mount Etna’s activity closely despite the reduction in the aviation alert level.

The resumption of flights provides relief to passengers and airlines following several days of significant disruption, although further changes to operations could depend on developments in volcanic activity and ash emissions.