Ash from Mount Etna grounds flights at Sicily airport

All flights have been suspended at Catania International Airport, one of Italy’s busiest hubs, after volcanic ash from nearby Mount Etna drifted over the airfield. Airport officials said arrivals and departures, which were first halted on Monday, would remain suspended until 22:00 (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday. The suspension follows a red aviation alert issued by the INGV Etneo Observatory on Monday due to ongoing activity at the volcano. Catania, which ranks as Italy’s fifth‑busiest airport by passenger traffic, normally handles about 12 million travelers each year. The airport was closed for roughly a week during last summer’s peak travel period because of similar volcanic emissions. The disruption marks the second time in recent months that flights have been stopped at Catania because of Etna’s output. Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, rises to 3,324 metres (10,906 feet) and lies approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the airport. Despite the flight cancellations, August’s eruption attracted large crowds of onlookers to the lava flows, and roughly 1.5 million people visit the volcano annually. Airport officials advised passengers to check with their airlines for updates before traveling to the terminal, noting that further information would be posted on the airport’s website. Calls have persisted for the airport and other Sicilian facilities to be expanded given their proximity to the frequently erupting volcano.