A flight between Manchester Airport and Sicily has been cancelled today as flights remain suspended at Catania Airport due to volcanic activity by Mount Etna.
Flights suspended for second day
Flights were disrupted on Saturday when Mount Etna sent a 4km-high volcanic ash cloud into the sky. Ash was emitted from Etna’s north-east crater and dispersing southwards, while a violent storm also battered Catania throughout the night, the Mirror reports.
Earlier in the day restrictions were put in place limiting flights at Catania Airport before flights were suspended altogether. Disruption has continued for a second day as the airport remains closed.
Airport update on Sunday
In an update issued on Sunday, September 27, Catania Airport said:” Following the release of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, all flight operations remain suspended until 11:59 PM today. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport. Further updates will follow.”
The ash cloud has prompted restrictions on the airspace around the volcano, with flights at Catania airport suspended and some services cancelled, delayed or diverted to other airports in Sicily.
Affected Manchester services
Jet2 and easyJet both operate flights between Manchester Airport and Catania. easyJet flight U22133 due to depart from Manchester at 7.55am this morning was cancelled. The 3.35pm easyJet flight U22134 from Catania to Manchester Airport has also been cancelled.
Palermo Airport, which also serves flights from Manchester Airport, is open as normal. Some flights have been diverted there while Catania is closed.
Recent disruptions
Mount Etna caused disruption at Catania Airport only a couple of weeks ago. The airport was partially closed on Monday September 14. On that occasion SAC, the company that manages the airport, said arrivals would be suspended due to volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
The airport was also forced to close on August 10, when all in-bound flights were cancelled for hours after volcanic ash disrupted the airspace.
