Etna's Ash Keeps Catania Closed, Stranding Sardinian Holidaymakers

Mount Etna's ongoing eruption has kept Catania's airport closed for a fifth consecutive day, grounding flights and stranding hundreds of travellers during Italy's busiest summer travel week, according to France 24 and Al Jazeera. The airport will remain shut until at least early August 15, with flights suspended until Saturday afternoon at the earliest, the outlets reported on Friday.

The volcano, Europe's largest active one, has been spewing lava and volcanic ash that have repeatedly forced closures at Sicily's main gateway. Deutsche Welle reported that the eruption has disrupted travel during the peak summer holiday season, while The New York Times noted that tens of thousands of travellers' plans have been affected over the past week.

For Sardinian travellers, the closure adds another layer of strain to an already fragile summer transport network. Ferries and flights between the islands are the only links to the mainland, and with Catania closed, many who booked connecting itineraries through Sicily face rebooking or cancellation, a situation that echoes the disruption seen in previous eruptions.

The New York Times quoted an expert saying that while Etna erupts often, it usually does not release this much ash, explaining the unusually prolonged closure. The airport's shutdown has forced airlines to cancel dozens of flights, with passengers scrambling for alternatives during Ferragosto, the peak of Italy's holiday calendar when roads and airports are typically at their most crowded.

The knock-on effects extend beyond Sicily. Sardinia's own airports, including Cagliari's, have seen increased pressure as travellers seek alternative routes to reach the islands. The closure has also raised concerns among tourism operators in Sardinia, who depend on summer traffic from mainland Italy and Europe, though no official figures on diverted passengers have been released by the wire sources.

Euronews reported that tourists have been flocking to Mount Etna to witness the eruption despite safety warnings, with local guides expressing concern. The spectacle has drawn crowds eager to see lava flows, even as authorities struggle to manage the disruption. For Sardinia, the episode underscores the vulnerability of island economies to regional transport shocks, a theme familiar to residents who rely on ferries and air links that can be severed by weather or volcanic activity.

Al Jazeera noted that the airport will remain closed until at least Saturday afternoon, leaving hundreds stranded. The timing, during the busiest travel week of the year, has amplified the impact, with many holidaymakers facing extended waits. As of Friday, no timeline for a full reopening had been confirmed, and the ash plume continues to drift, threatening further closures.