Persistent Etna ash shuts Catania airport during peak holiday week

Mount Etna's continuous volcanic activity has led to the closure of Sicily's main airport, Catania, for the fifth day in a row. This disruption has stranded numerous travelers during the peak holiday week, known as the Ferragosto holiday, which marks the peak of Italy's summer tourism season. The airport, located 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of the volcano, is expected to remain closed until early Saturday.

Boris Behncke, a researcher at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory, explained that volcanic ash poses a significant risk to aircraft, as it can be drawn into engines and cause them to stall, hence the heightened caution taken by aviation authorities. This particular incident is notable for its prolonged duration since 2002, with the ash persistently affecting flights.

Northern winds have transported lighter ash deposits to places like Malta and northern Africa, underscoring the widespread impact of Etna's activity. The closure has prompted airlines to reroute flights to other Sicilian airports, resulting in increased travel costs, with taxi and car rental prices surging, as reported by the Corriere della Sera.

Consumer advocacy group Codacons has filed a complaint with Italy's competition authority over allegations of price gouging. The airport authority mentioned that 36% of the 2,000 flights expected to arrive in Catania between August 6 and 12 were canceled, while over 600 were diverted to other Sicilian and Calabrian airports. However, flights resumed departing Catania over the weekend, though the airport remained closed to both incoming and outgoing flights on Monday.