Mount Etna ash emissions halt arrivals at Catania Airport amid intense volcanic activity

Intense explosive activity continued at Mount Etna’s Voragine crater on Monday, producing heavy ash emissions that prompted authorities to suspend incoming flights at Catania Airport until 5 p.m. local time.

The airport operator, SAC, said the ash dispersal forced the closure of part of the airspace serving the airport, leading to the temporary suspension of arriving flights.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), through its Etna Observatory in Catania, reported that the volcano was experiencing “intense and continuous explosive activity” at the Voragine crater, with volcanic bombs falling in the summit area and abundant ash drifting toward the south-southwest.

According to the observatory, vents at elevations of 2,750 meters and 2,360 meters remained active and were feeding several lava flows that have formed complex lava fields. The most advanced active fronts were located at about 1,500 meters elevation, at the base of the northern wall of the Valle del Bove in the Monte Rinatu area.

The INGV said the average amplitude of volcanic tremor remained elevated, although still in the lower part of the high range. The centroid of the tremor sources, which had temporarily shifted to an area between the Voragine and Northeast craters at roughly 2,400-2,700 meters elevation, had returned to the Voragine crater area at about 3,000 meters.

The observatory said the VONA (Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation) remained at the highest alert level, red.

The continuing eruption has created a highly unpredictable and rapidly changing operating environment for Catania Airport and airlines serving the Sicilian city.

KM Malta Airlines said it was working closely with Catania Airport and relevant authorities to maintain scheduled operations whenever conditions are safe. The airline warned that volcanic activity, wind patterns and weather conditions can change rapidly, sometimes with little advance notice.

The carrier said that when sufficient information is available it seeks to notify affected passengers as early as possible, but deteriorating conditions or operational restrictions may require delays or cancellations shortly before departure.

KM Malta Airlines said safety remained its “overriding priority” and that it would cancel flights whenever volcanic or weather conditions posed a potential risk to safe operations, even at short notice.

The airline added that its operational teams would continue coordinating with airport authorities to maximize opportunities to operate scheduled services safely while the volcanic activity persists.