Flights faced suspension at Catania airport in Sicily on Wednesday due to new ash emissions from Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano. This led to an extension of airspace restrictions, impacting travel during the busy summer holiday season. The effects of the eruption were not limited to Sicily, as neighboring Malta also experienced flight cancellations and significant delays as volcanic ash drifted south across the Mediterranean.

Mount Etna frequently disrupts operations at Catania airport, which serves as Sicily’s main gateway and is Italy’s fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic. Recent volcanic activities have caused disruptions for travelers. Images captured lava flow and smoke rising from the crater during the eruptions on July 5 and 6.

Satellite imagery displayed the spread of smoke from Mount Etna on Tuesday. A drone view showed lava flowing down a slope during an eruption the same day. Travel disruptions have been ongoing in eastern Sicily since last week due to renewed volcanic activity and shifting winds carrying ash across the region. Passengers were left stranded at the terminal following the closure of Catania airport due to the ash cloud from Etna on Monday.

While conditions seemed to be improving on Wednesday, Malta International Airport continued to caution passengers about potential disruptions. The prolonged restrictions at Catania airport have increased pressure on other airports in Sicily. Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla mentioned that the city’s airport had handled 190 flights originally scheduled for Catania in recent days. Comiso airport, a smaller facility south of Catania, which had been used to manage tourist season traffic, has now resumed full operations after suspending flights on Tuesday due to ash from Etna.