Kathmandu— Continuing volcanic activity from Mount Etna has led to the closure of Sicily's busiest airport, Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, disrupting travel plans for thousands and raising questions about the viability of maintaining a major transportation hub so close to an active volcano. Flights were suspended on Friday and will remain grounded until at least 2 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Saturday due to heavy ashfall, marking the most significant disruption at the airport in over two decades. The eruption has already resulted in hundreds of cancelled or diverted flights this week, impacting both European and North African air travel.

Widespread Flight Cancellations

Mount Etna’s recent eruption caused the cancellation of more than a third of the 1,974 scheduled flights between last Thursday and Wednesday. An additional 600 flights were diverted during the same period, creating significant logistical challenges for both airlines and passengers. Catania airport typically handles at least 40,000 passengers daily, but current conditions have brought operations to a standstill.

Passenger Disruptions and Travel Alternatives

Hundreds of travelers are currently stranded, awaiting cancelled or delayed flights during what is normally the busiest travel week of the year. Antonella Thirande Warnakulasuriya Costa, who was attempting to reach Sri Lanka via Dubai, described her repeated cancellations: “We were due to leave on Wednesday, but our flight was cancelled; then they rescheduled it for Friday. Now that one’s been cancelled too.” In response to the airport closure, Trenitalia has added six additional trains along the Palermo-Messina-Catania route to provide alternative transportation options.

Ashfall Extends Beyond Europe

The impact of Mount Etna's eruption extends beyond European airspace. Volcanic ash has been detected as far away as North Africa, demonstrating the reach of the eruption’s effects. While passengers may be entitled to compensation for severely disrupted travel plans, airlines are likely to invoke ‘extraordinary circumstances’ related to the volcanic eruption, potentially limiting their legal obligation to provide refunds or reimbursements.

Authorities continue to monitor Mount Etna's activity and assess when it will be safe to resume flights. Passengers planning to travel through Catania airport on Saturday are advised to contact their airlines for updated information.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.