Etna's ash shuts Catania airport for fifth day, stranding summer travellers

Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity has closed Catania's airport, Sicily's largest, for the fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of summer holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year, France 24 reported. The airport will remain closed until early August 15, with flights suspended until at least Saturday afternoon, according to Al Jazeera.

The eruption, which continues to spew lava and volcanic ash, has disrupted travel across the island during the peak Ferragosto holiday period, Deutsche Welle reported. Experts note that while Etna erupts often, it usually does not release this much ash, the New York Times reported, with tens of thousands of travellers' plans disrupted in the past week.

The closures have forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights, leaving passengers to scramble for alternative routes via other southern Italian airports or ferries to the mainland.

For Lombardy's travel industry, the disruption comes at the worst possible moment. Ferragosto, the August 15 national holiday, marks the height of the Italian summer exodus, when millions of northern Italians head south to Sicily, Sardinia and the coastal resorts. Milan's Malpensa and Linate airports, the country's busiest hubs, have seen knock-on effects as carriers reroute stranded passengers through the north, according to the New York Times.

The ash cloud has also drawn tourists to the volcano itself, with visitors flocking to witness the eruption despite safety warnings from local guides, Euronews reported. Videos show hikers watching as molten lava, rocks and ash spew down Etna's slopes, a spectacle that has become a draw in its own right even as it wreaks havoc on air travel.

The economic cost is mounting for Sicily's tourism-dependent economy, already straining under the summer's heatwave and wildfire risks across Europe, The Local Italy reported. For Lombard tour operators and travel agencies, the closures mean rebooking headaches and potential liability for cancelled packages, while the broader Italian tourism sector watches for signs of lasting damage to the island's reputation as a reliable summer destination.

Authorities have not given a firm date for reopening Catania airport, with conditions dependent on wind direction and ash dispersion, according to Al Jazeera. The volcano's activity shows no sign of abating, leaving travellers and airlines in a holding pattern as the holiday week continues.