Flights to and from the eastern Sicilian city of Catania were halted on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, following an eruption from nearby Mount Etna, according to the airport operator. This disruption brings fresh travel woes during the peak summer tourist season.

Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has seen intense activity in recent days, spewing hot ash and lava. The Catania airport, a crucial hub for eastern Sicily that attracts more arrivals than the capital Palermo, was already closed earlier this month due to ash in the sky.

Authorities have decided to suspend all incoming and outgoing flights. Footage sourced from a local man, Salvo Maccarrone, shows thick smoke billowing from Mount Etna. Maccarrone recorded the video this morning at 8:40 from Piazza Duomo in Giarre.

Video credit - Salvo Maccarrone

Mount Etna eruption halts flights at Catania airport for second time this month


Flights serving the eastern Sicilian city of Catania in Italy were halted on Tuesday after an eruption from nearby Mount Etna, the airport operator said, bringing fresh travel woe during the peak summer tourist season.

Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has seen intense activity in recent days, spewing hot ash and lava.

The airport of Catania had already been closed earlier this month due to ash in the sky. It acts as a hub for the east of Sicily and attracts more arrivals than the capital Palermo.

The statement said that authorities had decided on “the suspension of all incoming and outgoing flights.”

Footage sourced from a local man named Salvo Maccarrone shows thick smokes of Mount Etna - giving details about the video he adds
He recorded it this morning at 8:40 from Piazza Duomo in Giarre