Mount Etna eruption forces Catania airport closure and flight cancellations

Mount Etna erupted in Sicily, Italy. As a result, Ryanair cancelled some flights to and from Catania on Friday. The airline said in a statement that passengers travelling to and from Catania should monitor announcements in the Irish airline's dedicated app.

Due to Mount Etna's eruption and the rising smoke cloud, Ryanair decided to cancel some flights to and from Catania on 5 July. The airline added that potential disruptions to other flights are being continuously monitored.

It was noted that passengers whose flights have been cancelled have received notifications about available options via email. They were also advised to follow announcements in the Ryanair app to get the latest flight information.

We regret any inconvenience to passengers caused by the volcano eruption. This is beyond our control and it affects all airlines operating flights to and from Catania on Friday, 5 July, the company stated.

Due to the volcanic activity of Etna in Sicily, the Catania airport, one of the main ports on the island, was closed on Friday. In addition, a red alert is in effect on the island of Stromboli, also due to volcanic activity.

The Catania airport operator has informed us that the port closure was necessary due to volcanic ash in the air. The initial plan is to reopen the airport at 14:00 GMT on Friday.