Flights are restricted to six arrivals an hour.
ADVERTISEMENTTravel to and from the Italian island of Sicily is currently disrupted due to a volcanic eruption.
Catania international airport has delayed flights due to an eruption from Mount Etna billowing smoke into the air. The smoke affects visibility for pilots.
Nearby towns have also been covered in black volcanic ash after the Voragine crater began erupting last night.
Arrivals are currently limited to six per hour at Catania, which is on the east coast of Sicily and at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano.
Some departures are also delayed. During previous eruptions, flights have been diverted to other airports on the island, such as Palermo and Comiso, but it is not clear if that will be the plan today.
Catania airport: What is the advice to passengers?
The airport’s management has advised passengers to contact their airlines for information on their flights.
You can check airline’s apps or websites for the most up to date information, as well as their social media channels. Also keep an eye on the email with which you made the booking as your airline or booking platform may contact you to advise you of changes.
Although no official numbers have been issued, the airport’s arrival boards show delays of 30 minutes to one hour for some flights.
Most departures have taken off on time so far this morning, however there could a knock-on effect if runways get clogged up.
Catania is Sicily’s most popular airport with international tourists, with the island at the height of the summer season.
Check your flight status here.
Are Catania flights being diverted and will transfers be provided?
At the time of writing, flights are not being diverted to other airports in Sicily.
However if the volcanic smoke continues to affect visibility, diversions may start.
Don’t forget that Sicily is the biggest island in the Mediterranean. It is twice the size of Cyprus, a country in its own right, and it takes at least eight hours to drive all the way from east to west.
Comiso airport is a two-hour drive from Catania airport; both are on the east of the island.
ADVERTISEMENTWhereas Palermo and Trapani are on the west of the island therefore four-five hours drive from Catania.
There are car hire companies at Sicily’s airports and there are also coaches between the main cities.
During previous travel disruption, airports or airlines have arranged free coaches to take passengers to the airport they were due to land at.
Will passengers be able to claim compensation?
Airlines are required to offer you another flight or a refund is a flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours.
ADVERTISEMENTHowever, this is only when they could have prevented the disruption. In the case of a volcanic eruption, it is not their fault.
However in most cases airlines will still endeavour to get passengers to their final destination.
It always pays to have travel insurance as you may be able to claim back for unexpected expenses.
Is it safe to travel to Sicily?
Yes, it is still safe to travel to Sicily, even when Mount Etna is erupting.
ADVERTISEMENTThere is an ongoing drought in Sicily but the majority of hotels and other tourist accomodation are open and operating as normal.
Travellers should take the usual precautions for hot weather – drink plenty of water, stay in the shade during the hottest hours of the day and seek medical attention if you feel unwell.
Where is Mount Etna and is it dangerous?
Mount Etna is on the east coast of the Italian island of Sicily.
It is Europe’s most active volcanoes and has been going through an especially active period for the last five years.
ADVERTISEMENTAlthough Mt Etna erupts frequently, lava has not reached nearby towns since the 1800s.
Etna more than 200 craters and when one of these does erupt, black volcanic ash lands in the city of Catania, as its foot, and the many surrounding towns and villages. This is inconvenient to residents but usually not a problem for visitors.
Even during an eruption, there are many hiking trails and paths that are still safe, though it is a legal requirement to go up with a qualified local mountain guide.