Rome, Aug 13. (dpa/GNA) – The eruption of Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily, continued to disrupt flights at Catania airport on Thursday, with the airport operator again extending restrictions as heavy ash emissions persisted.
Arrivals will remain suspended until 8 am (0600 GMT) on Friday, the airport operator said. No extension was announced for departures, which had previously been suspended until 2 am on Friday.
The disruption is already hitting tourism on the island. Trade association Assoesercenti estimates that the economic damage resulting from flight cancellations and disruptions amounts to between €12 million and €24 million ($13.9 million to €27.7 million).
With the volcano’s future activity unknown, it remains unclear how long the airport will be affected. Stefano Branca, director of the volcanology department at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that it is impossible to predict when the eruption will end.
He said the eruptive activity was “slightly declining,” but warned that “the only certainty is that there are no certainties.” Mount Etna – Europe’s most active volcano – has been spewing large quantities of ash and glowing rock fragments since Friday.
The operator has extended the airport closure several times as a result. Since the eruption began, hundreds of flights have been affected by cancellations, delays and diversions. Tens of thousands of holidaymakers have had to reschedule their trips.
GNA