Catania airport, Italy's fifth-busiest by passenger traffic, suspended flight operations on Saturday due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna combined with weather conditions, according to the company that operates the Sicilian hub.
All arrivals at the airport were suspended until 1000 GMT on Sunday, Reuters reported, while other outlets described flights being halted until midnight.
Mount Etna, described as Europe's highest and most active volcano, frequently disrupts flights at Catania, but ash emissions have been particularly intense this summer, affecting thousands of travelers, according to Arab News.
Euronews reported that the eruption caused chaos at the airport and raised the risk of higher air fares.
How each side covered it
Left
- The Independent reported this is not the first time Etna's ash has forced closure of the popular airport.
- Bloomberg reported Catania Airport suspended arrivals due to volcanic activity.
“Mount Etna ash forces closure of popular Italian airport again” — The Independent
Center
- Reuters reported arrivals suspended until 1000 GMT on Sunday due to Etna ash.
- Arab News reported the operating company cited both volcanic ash and weather conditions for the suspension.
- Euronews reported chaos at the airport and warned of a risk of higher air fares.
- Arab News noted ash emissions have been particularly intense this summer, affecting thousands of travelers.
“Italy's Catania airport keeps flights suspended until midnight due to Etna ash” — Reuters
Questions readers ask
What happened at Catania airport?
Catania airport in Sicily suspended flight operations on Saturday because of volcanic ash from Mount Etna's activity combined with weather conditions, according to the airport's operating company.
How long were flights suspended?
Reuters reported arrivals were suspended until 1000 GMT on Sunday, while other outlets described flights being halted until midnight; sources differ on the exact timing.
Why does this matter for travelers?
Catania is Italy's fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, and Euronews reported the disruption raised the risk of higher air fares amid what it described as chaos at the airport.
Is this a frequent occurrence?
Mount Etna frequently disrupts flights at Catania airport, but ash emissions have been particularly intense this summer, according to Arab News.
What did left- and center-leaning outlets focus on?
Left-leaning outlets emphasized the repeated closure of a popular airport, while center outlets detailed the suspension timeline, the volcano's activity level, and potential fare increases. No right-leaning coverage was supplied.
Sources · 5 outlet reports
- BloombergLeft-leaningCatania Airport Suspends Arrivals Due to Volcanic Activity
- The IndependentLeft-leaningMount Etna ash forces closure of popular Italian airport again
- Arab NewsCenterItaly’s Catania airport shuts as Etna ash halts flights
- EuronewsCenterVideo. Etna erupts again: chaos at Catania airport, risk of higher air fares
- ReutersCenterItaly's Catania airport shuts as Etna ash halts flights