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Mount Etna volcanic eruption closes major Europe airport in new blow to holidaymakers

Bad news adds to problems with easyJet cancelling hundreds of Portugal flights

[Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in continental Europe, erupt again, spewing ash and molten lava in Catania, Italy on August 15, 2024]

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Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in continental Europe, erupted again, spewing ash and molten lava in Catania, Italy on August 15(Image: Aalvatore Allegra/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Air travellers have been dealt another blow as a major airport was forced to shut down due to the eruption of nearby volcano, Mount Etna. The volcanic activity sent plumes of smoke more than 10km into the sky, leading to Catania Airport cancelling all flights due to debris and ash covering the runway.

This comes as a fresh setback for holidaymakers who were informed just yesterday that easyJet had to cancel 232 flights to and from Portugal in the coming days because of a cabin crew strike. Additionally, Jet2 announced today (August 15) that flights were being delayed due to air traffic control issues.

Ryanair also reported that the same issue had resulted in over 100 early flights being delayed today. Following the eruption of Etna in Sicily, neighbouring towns were blanketed in black volcanic ash.

It is anticipated that flights will resume around 6pm, although this has not yet been confirmed. British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair are among several airlines that were compelled to cancel flights to and from Catania this morning. This latest disruption, the third in two months, coincides with Italy's busiest national public holiday, Ferragosto.

In a statement released this morning, Ryanair apologised to passengers for the air-traffic control chaos, attributing it to 'staff shortages' and stating it was 'affecting all European airlines'. A spokesperson for Ryanair expressed their frustration, stating: "ATC services, which have had the benefit of no French ATC strike disruption this summer, continue to underperform (despite flight volumes being 5% behind 2019 levels) with repeated 'staff shortages'. On Thu 15 Aug, 17% of Ryanair's first wave departures (97 of 577 aircraft) were delayed due to ATC 'staff shortages'. These repeated flight delays due to ATC mismanagement are unacceptable. We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair's control."

[Catania International Airport was closed due to debris on the runways]

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Catania International Airport was closed due to debris on the runways meaning travellers were left with cancellations and delays(Image: Salvatore Allegra/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Jet2 also released a statement, updated today, saying: "We'd like to let you know that due to air traffic control congestion as a result of weather across Europe today some flights may experience a delay. All flights are expected to operate as scheduled, Check-in will close 40 minutes before your scheduled departure time."

EasyJet has advised anyone travelling to Portugal from today (Aug 15) to Saturday to check their flight status first. The airline operates flights to Portugal from several UK airports, including Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol, London Gatwick, and Luton.

Its destinations in Portugal include Lisbon, Porto, and Faro on the southern Algarve coast. A total of 27 return flights between the UK and Portugal have been cancelled in advance for the strike period, an EasyJet spokesperson confirmed.

Portugal's National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Staff (SNPVAC) has announced a three-day strike for all flights operated by easyJet, as well as other services involving air cabin crew, if their "reporting hours occur on national territory starting at 00:01 on 15 August and ending at 24:00 on 17 August". The union is urging the airline not to cancel flights, but rather to use "common sense" and meet the "fair demands of its workers".

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The SNPVAC also requested that EasyJet "finds solutions to avoid" the strike, accusing the company of ignoring previous proposals to prevent industrial action. Ricardo Penarroias, president of the union, told AFP news agency that "working conditions never cease to worsen" for cabin crew members, pointing out longer working hours and severe staff shortages. Striking staff are also demanding higher bonuses.

According to Portuguese newspaper Expresso, a total of 1,138 EasyJet flights were initially scheduled over the three-day period. However, the budget airline stated it would continue to operate 62% of its flight programme to and from Portugal during the August 15 to August 17 strike period.

An EasyJet UK spokesperson expressed disappointment with the "needless strike action", especially considering the timing for their customers. "Our priority has been to try and minimise the impact of this strike action on our customers, which included cancelling some flights in advance in order to allow them to rearrange their travel plans. Customers whose flight has been affected have already been contacted a number of days ago with their options to rebook or receive a refund. We also advise customers travelling to and from Portugal on 15, 16 and 17 August to check the status of their flights on the easyJet Flight Tracker."

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