Mount Etna eruption prolongs travel disruption in Sicily
Ongoing volcanic activity has prompted widespread flight cancellations and diversions, leaving travellers stranded across Sicily during the busy summer season
Flight disruption continues across Sicily as the eruption of Mount Etna forced airlines to cancel and divert services, extending travel issues for thousands of passengers.
Volcanic ash from Europe’s most active volcano prompted authorities to issue a red aviation alert over the weekend, leading to repeated operational restrictions at Catania–Fontanarossa Airport.
Although the alert level has since been lowered to yellow, flight schedules remain heavily affected as authorities monitor volcanic activity.
Several airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, and Wizz Air, have cancelled or diverted services to and from Catania, while passengers have been advised to check the status of their flights before travelling.
Airport operator SAC said arrivals at Catania remained restricted, with some aircraft diverted to airports including Palermo, Trapani, and Comiso. Sicily’s regional government has arranged onward transport for affected passengers arriving at alternative airports as efforts continue to manage the disruption.
Mount Etna entered a renewed eruptive phase on Sunday, producing significant ash emissions and lava flows from the Voragine summit crater.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology raised the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) to red after detecting intense volcanic activity, although the current alert has since been reduced.
The prolonged disruption highlights the operational challenges posed by volcanic events during peak holiday periods.
Coverage for volcanic ash disruption varies between travel insurance policies. While many policies provide benefits when flights are cancelled or significantly delayed due to unforeseen natural events, insurers are likely to assess claims according to individual policy terms, including trip delay, missed departure, and additional accommodation provisions.
Elsewhere in Europe, wildfires have caused widespread damage on both sides of the Spanish-French border, with over 10,000 forced to evacuate due to wildfires in the French Pyrenees.