The Etna continues to paralyze air traffic in Sicilia at the most delicate moment of the summer. The closure of theCatania airport has been extended until 2pm on Saturday 15 August, on the night of August 15th. According to new data released by SAC, between August 6th and 12th approximately 630 flights were diverted to other airports, while the 36% of the 1.974 scheduled connections were cancelled, over 700 flights. The company that manages Fontanarossa describes the most serious emergency in the last twenty years due to the impact on the airport infrastructure.
Catania Airport closed: 700 flights affected and disruptions at other airports.
The presence of volcanic ash continues to impede the normal operation of Fontanarossa. According to data provided by Bags, between approximately August 6th and 12th 630 flights bound for Catania were diverted to other airports. In the same period, a total of 1.974 flights were scheduled and approximately 36% has been deleted, that is, just over 700 connections.
The numbers illustrate the extent of the emergency during one of the busiest periods of the year. Catania Airport has recently recorded at least 40 thousand passengers per day and SAC speaks of the most serious crisis in the last twenty years due to the impact on the airport. Around 300 people were still present inside the airport waiting to be transferred. towards other ports.
To manage the emergency, some of the flights initially destined for Catania were transferred to other Sicilian airports, in particular Comiso, Palermo e TrapaniIn some cases, passengers were forced to take long bus transfers to reach alternative airports, while others even spent the night at the airport.The closure of the airport has been extended until 2am on Saturday 15 August, bringing the emergency into the midst of the August bank holiday weekend. Passengers are therefore continuing to seek alternative flights from Palermo, Comiso, Trapani, and even Lamezia Terme.
The Region activates extraordinary connections
Faced with a situation involving tens of thousands of people, the Sicilian region decided to intervene, despite not having expertise in air traffic management. President Renato Schifani explained that measures had been activated connections Extraordinary Civil Protection has been involved, with the aim of helping reduce the disruption caused by the closure of Fontanarossa. Decisions regarding flight operations and passenger assistance remain the responsibility of the airlines.
Anyone departing or arriving in Sicily in the next few hours should check the status of their flight directly with the airline before reaching the airport. In the event of cancellation or rescheduling, the airline will inform them. alternative available and the conditions provided for assistance, re-routing or refund.
Etna continues to erupt: new vent and lava flows
At the root of the emergency there is the eruptive activity of Etna, which continues to produce ash and volcanic material. In recent days a new eruptive vent has opened at the base of the north face of the Bove Valley, above Monte Simone, at about 2.090 meters above sea level. Strombolian activity continues, while lava flows affect the Valle del Bove and the Lion Valley.
The ash cloud moved south and southwest, affecting areas beyond Sicily. The cloud is also believed to have reached Malta, impacting air traffic.
Musumeci: "The airport in Catania is out of place, not the volcano."
The emergency has also reignited the debate over the future of the Fontanarossa airport. Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci Musumeci He declared: "In Catania, the airport is out of place, not the volcano," recalling the proposal to relocate Catania airport, put forward as early as 1999. The current emergency thus once again highlights the vulnerability of one of Sicily's main airports to Etna's activity.
For those who have planned a trip between August 14th and 15th, the advice remains to check the flight before leaving, because cancellations, diversions and reschedulings can change quickly. At the moment, theCatania Airport will remain closed until 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 15th.The resumption of operations will depend on the evolution of Etna's activity and the presence of volcanic ash in the airspace.
Last updated August 14th at 8:18 AM
