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Ash emissions from Mount Etna, the active volcano on Sicily, Italy's largest island, continued to disrupt air travel, with Catania's international airport confirming that domestic and international flights would remain suspended for a while longer.
SAC, the company that operates Catania's Vincenzo Bellini International Airport, also known as Fontanarossa, issued a written statement on the ongoing disruption caused by Etna's ash emissions. Bellini is Sicily's main airport and a key gateway for travelers to the island.
"The closure period for airspace sectors B3 and C1 has been extended due to the release of volcanic ash into the atmosphere," the statement said.
"As a result, flight operations have been suspended until 14:30 local time." The airport urged passengers to check their flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport.
The ash emissions began the previous day, sending volcanic material to an altitude of roughly four kilometers (2.5 miles) and prompting aviation authorities to issue a "red" code alert, the highest level in the color-coded system used to warn aircraft of volcanic ash hazards along their flight path.
Both domestic and international flights at Catania airport had already been suspended earlier in the day. The suspension, initially set for a shorter window, was extended incrementally over several hours as the ash cloud persisted through the morning.
Etna, located on Sicily's eastern coast near Catania, has recorded a marked increase in volcanic activity this year compared to recent years, particularly over the summer months.
Media reports have noted that the heightened activity has disrupted travel plans for tourists visiting Sicily, one of the Mediterranean's most popular holiday destinations, at multiple points during the season.
Etna is regarded as one of Europe's most active volcanoes. In recent months, the mountain has produced frequent ash emissions and lava flows, keeping aviation authorities on repeated alert.
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