Mount Etna Ash Cloud Grounds Flights at Malta Airport
An ash cloud from Mount Etna has disrupted air travel to Malta, with 19 flights cancelled and several delayed.
An ash cloud drifting from Sicily's Mount Etna volcano has caused significant disruption to air travel in Malta, leading to the cancellation of nearly 20 flights at the island's main airport on Tuesday.
Malta International Airport confirmed the disruption in a statement, noting that the volcanic ash cloud had moved over the Maltese Islands following renewed activity at Mount Etna. By mid-afternoon, 19 flights had been cancelled, with several others experiencing substantial delays.
The airport, located approximately 220 kilometers south of the volcano, is feeling the effects of Etna's latest eruption, which began last week. The activity has already forced the closure of Catania Airport in Sicily, Italy's fifth-busiest airport, for several days. That closure has now been extended until Wednesday morning.
Passengers traveling to or from either Catania or Malta are being advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airports. The disruption comes at the height of the summer tourism season, adding to the inconvenience for travelers in the region.