Video: An airport in Sicily has been closed for over a week due to the eruption of Mount Etna
In Sicily, the airport has been closed for over a week due to the activity of Mount Etna. The eruption has caused disruptions in air travel and significantly impacted the airport’s operations.
According to the latest estimates, more than 1,350 flights were canceled or rerouted between August 6 and 12, affecting more than 100,000 passengers.
Airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air have warned passengers about delays, cancellations, and flight changes.
Authorities have now postponed the airport’s reopening again—at least until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15.
Mount Etna is active again.
Lava flows are being observed in Valle del Leone and Valle del Bove.
Etna always surprises us.
Sicily Active is closely monitoring the volcano. #MountEtna #EtnaEruption #EtnaLava #Sicily pic.twitter.com/p4HgQosxsX— Sicily Active (@ActiveSicily) August 13, 2026
It is noted that to transport passengers, local authorities have launched additional bus and train routes to Palermo, where many flights have been rerouted.
These disruptions to air travel are putting a strain on Sicily’s transportation network in the midst of the summer tourist season.
Catania serves as a “key gateway” for tourists heading to popular destinations in eastern Sicily, such as Taormina, Syracuse, or the Aeolian Islands, as well as for those returning home from these towns and islands.
Tourism accounts for about 4.2% of the island’s economy. Experts estimate that several days of flight disruptions could cost millions of euros in tourism revenue.
Hundreds of tourists are exploring areas covered by rivers of lava following the eruption of Mount Etna pic.twitter.com/2DHQnjv8KZ
— EL MUNDO (@elmundoes) August 14, 2026
Bloomberg reports this.
The eruption of Mount Etna has caused new disruptions at Sicily’s airports.
Prior to this, Vincenzo Bellini International Airport in Catania, Italy, had completely suspended all arrivals and departures until at least 7:00 p.m. on August 11. The decision was made by the operating company SAC due to the active eruption of Mount Etna and the release of an ash cloud into the atmosphere.
A cloud of volcanic ash from Mount Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes, reached Malta on Tuesday, August 11. As a result, in the midst of the peak tourist season, airlines canceled at least 19 flights, and several others were delayed. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
