The new eruption of Etna has blocked scheduled flights from Catania airport. Right now only six planes can arrive per hour.
Los Travel to and from the Italian island of Sicily is disrupted due to a volcanic eruption. Catania international airport has delayed flights due to a Etna eruption that blows smoke into the air. The smoke affects the visibility of the pilots.
Nearby towns have also been covered in black volcanic ash after the Voragine crater erupted last night. Arrivals in Cataniaon the eastern coast of Sicily and at the foot of Etna, the most active volcano in Europe, are limited to six per hour.
Some departures also suffer delays. In previous eruptionsflights have been diverted to other airports on the island, such as Palermo and Comiso, but it is unclear if that will be the plan today.
Catania Airport: What is advised to passengers?
The airport management has advised passengers to contact their airlines for information about your flights.
They can check airline apps or websites for the most up-to-date information, as well as their social media channels. You also have to be pay attention to email with which the reservation was made, as the airline or booking platform may contact the passenger to inform them of the changes.
Although no official figures have been published, airport arrivals boards show delays of between 30 minutes and an hour on some flights. Most flights took off on schedule this morning, but there could be a domino effect if runways become clogged. Catania is the most popular airport in Sicily among international tourists, in the middle of the summer season.
Check the status of your flight here.
Are flights diverted from Catania and are transfers offered?
At the time of writing these lines, flights have not been diverted to other airports in Sicily. However, if volcanic smoke continues to affect visibility, detours may be initiated.
Don’t forget that Sicily It is the largest island in the Mediterranean. It is twice the size of Cyprus, a country in its own right, and takes at least eight hours to travel from east to west.
Comiso airport is a two-hour drive from Catania; both are to the east of the island. While Palermo and Trapani are to the west of the island and, therefore, four or five hours by car from Catania.
There are car rental companies at the airports in Sicily and also coaches between the main cities. In the past, airports or airlines have organized free buses to take passengers to the airport where they were to land.
Can passengers claim compensation?
Airlines are obliged to offer another flight or refund the ticket if the flight is canceled or delayed more than three hours. However, this only applies when they could have avoided the disorder. In the case of a volcanic eruption, it is not your fault.
However, in most cases, airlines will make every effort to get passengers to their final destination. It is always worth having travel insurancesince unexpected expenses can be claimed.
Is it safe to travel to Sicily?
Yes, it is still safe to travel to Sicily, even when Etna is erupting. There is drought in Sicilybut most hotels and other tourist accommodation are open and operating as normal.
Travelers should take the usual precautions in hot weather: drink plenty of water, stay in the shade during the hottest parts of the day, and seek medical attention if you feel unwell.
Where is Etna and is it dangerous?
Etna is on the eastern coast of the Italian island of Sicily. It is the most active volcano in Europe and is going through a period especially active for five years. Although Etna erupts frequentlylava has not reached nearby cities since the 19th century.
Etna has more than 200 craters and, when one of them erupts, black volcanic ash lands on the city of Catania below and the many towns and villages around it. This is uncomfortable for residents, but usually not a problem for visitors.
Even during an eruption, there are many hiking trails and paths that remain safealthough it is a legal requirement to climb with a qualified local mountain guide.
