{"id":61320,"date":"2026-08-14T09:51:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T13:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/ash-from-mount-etna-volcano-forces-closure-of-sicilys-busiest-airport-during-peak-holiday-week\/14\/08\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T09:51:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T13:51:01","slug":"ash-from-mount-etna-volcano-forces-closure-of-sicilys-busiest-airport-during-peak-holiday-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/ash-from-mount-etna-volcano-forces-closure-of-sicilys-busiest-airport-during-peak-holiday-week\/14\/08\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Ash from Mount Etna volcano forces closure of Sicily&#8217;s busiest airport during peak holiday week"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Ash spewing from Sicily&#8217;s Mount Etna volcano has forced the closure of the Italian island&#8217;s largest airport for the fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of summer holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Catania&#8217;s airport will remain closed until early on Saturday, which falls on the Ferragosto holiday that marks the height of the Italian summer holiday season when millions flock to the sea and mountains, deserting Italian cities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">While Etna&#8217;s activity often interrupts flights at the airport, located 30 kilometres south of the volcano, this is the longest emergency since 2002.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full items-center justify-center\" id=\"_R_149bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_149bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_149bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-body hidden dark:bg-ramones [&amp;:has(iframe[height='0'])]:mb-0 [&amp;:has(iframe[height='0'])]:pb-0 md:block\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex hidden w-full items-center justify-center\" id=\"_R_249bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_249bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n        #_R_249bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">&#8220;Volcanic ash can be a great risk for aircraft,&#8221; said Boris Behncke, a researcher at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology&#8217;s Etna Observatory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">&#8220;It can be sucked into the motors and force them to stall. This is why everyone is so very cautious with aircraft when there is a volcanic ash emission.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-2.5\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-modal=\"true\" aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, 13 August, 2026 &#8211; AP Photo<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe. The latest activity has been unusual for its persistence and sustained ash emissions. Northerly winds have spread light amounts of ash to Malta and northern Africa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">&#8220;There have been many shorter interruptions and stronger eruptions over the past few decades, but this event is different because the ash emission from Etna&#8217;s summit has been much more persistent,&#8221; Behncke said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_1a9bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_1a9bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_1a9bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The closure has forced planes to be rerouted to other airports on the island, which has pushed up taxi fares and car rental prices, according to the Corriere della Sera daily.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The Codacons consumer association has announced it will file a complaint with Italy&#8217;s competition authority following complaints about price gouging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\"><strong>Related<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"col-body mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\"\/>\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The SAC airport operator said 36% of nearly 2,000 flights scheduled to arrive in Catania from 6-12 August had been cancelled, while more than 600 were diverted to Palermo, Trapani and Comiso in Sicily and Lamezia Terme in Calabria.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_1g9bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_1g9bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_1g9bmap4lueknpf9mtbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Flights were able to depart Catania over the weekend, but the airport was officially closed to both incoming and outgoing flights on Monday. Comiso was also briefly closed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The Italian train company Trenitalia has added six trains along the Palermo-Messina-Catania route to help ease the travel pressure.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-2.5\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, 11 August, 2026\" width=\"808\" height=\"539\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/902f0b7164fb999faa5a5ac406e627763622de78c377716fe124c3bc30199b82\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w808_h539%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Feuronews_us_news_articles_566%2F587ac19761dbd768fd3465f5a8c4408d.jpg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-modal=\"true\" aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>Eruptive activity continues on Mount Etna, 11 August, 2026 &#8211; AP Photo<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Italy&#8217;s federation of travel agencies and tour operators has called for a task force to coordinate responses to disruptions caused by Mount Etna and said it would ask for a review of how airlines handled the cancellations and passenger assistance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">&#8220;Operators are working around the clock to provide assistance, cancellations and alternative travel arrangements, but they cannot bear the burden of structural shortcomings and the management responsibilities of others,&#8221; FIAVET President Gian Mario Pilieri said in a statement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/ash-mount-etna-volcano-forces-133016572.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ash spewing from Sicily&rsquo;s Mount Etna volcano has forced the closure of the Italian island&rsquo;s largest airport for the fifth consecutive day,<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/ash-from-mount-etna-volcano-forces-closure-of-sicilys-busiest-airport-during-peak-holiday-week\/14\/08\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/965d2ebfe56413e9cd633b28487ec4effed11eace06ffd2c8f1f75ca5b28ab08\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w1200%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_jpg\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Feuronews_us_news_articles_566%2Fc0b79d62a88e263554fdd92fd2651f76.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}