Mount Etna eruption forces Catania Airport to suspend operations

All flights using Catania Airport in Sicily remain suspended following an eruption of Mount Etna on Sunday night.

The volcano has been in a state of heightened volcanic activity for nine consecutive days, culminating in intense ash emissions and lava fountains from its craters.

The volcanic ash poses significant visibility and safety hazards for aircraft operations in the region.

Catania Airport, the primary international hub serving eastern Sicily. has been forced to stop operations 

The latest update on the airport website said: "Following the volcanic activity that occurred during the night between Sunday, July 5th and Monday, July 6th, all incoming flight operations remain suspended, and departures are fully blocked until further notice.

"Passengers are kindly requested not to travel to the airport unless they have first checked the status of their flight with their airline. Further updates will follow."

Airlines forced to cancel flights from Catania include Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, ITA, Delta, Lufthansa, Norwegian Air and Volotea, according to the airport website.