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Around 700 flights have been canceled at Catania airport in Sicily as Mount Etna's continuing eruption sends volcanic ash into the atmosphere, forcing authorities to suspend operations during the peak summer travel season.
SAC, the company that manages the airport, said all arriving and departing flights would remain suspended until 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday because of volcanic ash, while restrictions on sections of airspace affected by the ash cloud were also extended.
Between Aug. 8 and 11, around 400 departing flights were canceled, according to Italian news agency ANSA, with dozens more cancellations scheduled for Wednesday.
The disruption has also pushed airlines to redirect more than 250 flights to other airports across Sicily, including Comiso, Palermo and Trapani.
Comiso airport, located in the province of Ragusa, has since returned to full operations after temporarily shutting down flights because of ash contamination.
With thousands of residents and visitors traveling during Sicily's busy summer season, passengers have been urged to check directly with their airlines before setting out for Catania airport.
Italian Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said the latest shutdown had brought back long-standing concerns over Catania airport's vulnerability because of its proximity to Mount Etna.
Located on Sicily's eastern coast, Mount Etna is among the world's most active volcanoes, and its latest eruption has again disrupted air travel across the island.
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