Mount Etna eruption disrupts Catania Airport and Sicilian tourism

Recent eruptive activity from Mount Etna caused significant disruptions to air travel and the local tourism industry in Sicily. The Catania Airport experienced a prolonged closure, with arrivals suspended for nine days during the peak August tourist season. During the first week of the disruption, approximately 36% of the 1,974 scheduled flights were cancelled, while roughly 630 flights were diverted to other airports.

The economic impact on the province of Siracusa has been substantial. A survey conducted by the CNA Siracusa Study Center among 61 tourism-related businesses reported approximately 380,000 euros in direct lost revenue. This figure accounts for roughly 3,200 lost customers, bookings, and services. The catering sector reported the highest losses, followed by the hotel, tourism services, and extra-hotel accommodation sectors.