Further disruption at Catania Airport as Mount Etna erupts

Catania and Comiso airports were closed to all operations on Monday (today) due to a new eruption of Mount Etna, causing an ash cloud in the southeast of Sicily which moved into the Mediterranean.

Air Malta issued a statement on 14th August to say that Catania will be closed today and that the airport will re-open to inbound and outbound flights once the volcanic ash disperses.

“This has unfortunately resulted in a six-hour delay to Air Malta flights KM640 from Malta to Catania and KM641 from Catania to Malta,” Air Malta confirmed in a statement.

It said that customers have been provided refreshments in both Malta International Airport and Catania airport during the flight delay.

The national airline however warned that the airport delays “may result in other ongoing disruption during the course of the day as operations recover”.

This is the second major disruption at Catania airport in recent weeks. Earlier this month, 8,000 were left stranded due to a fire at the airport which severely disrupted operations up until seven days ago.