Etna eruption disrupts air traffic in Sicily – ash cloud drifts over North Africa

Impact on air traffic

Catania airport is the most important airport for eastern Sicily and a hub for the island's tourism. The eruption led to a widespread closure of the airspace around the volcano. As a result, numerous aircraft could neither take off nor land.

According to the available satellite images, Etna's ash and sulphur cloud spread beyond Sicily towards the south. The cloud was reportedly visible as far as North Africa. Such clouds can travel long distances depending on wind direction and can still leave traces in the atmosphere even far from their source.

Satellite image shows the cloud's spread

The images were captured by the Sentinel-5P satellite, which is part of the Earth observation programme Copernicus of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission. Such satellites provide data on the spread of gases and particles in the atmosphere and help researchers assess the scale of an eruption.

Etna erupts regularly and is one of the best-monitored volcanoes in the world. However, larger eruptions like the current one repeatedly lead to restrictions in air traffic, as fine ash particles can damage engines. Authorities and airlines usually respond with closures and diversions.

According to the available information, the situation at Catania airport gradually normalised once the ash cloud had dispersed. The exact duration of the disruptions was not conclusively quantified in the available sources. Passengers were asked to check with their airlines for the current status of their flights.

For the coming days, the responsible authorities announced that they would continue to monitor the situation. Satellite images and ground-based measurements are to provide information on how the concentration of ash in the air develops. Volcanologists are also observing Etna's activity in order to be able to assess possible further eruptions at an early stage.