About 700 flights were canceled at Catania Airport on Italy's island of Sicily because of the ongoing eruption of Mount Etna and volcanic ash released into the atmosphere.
About 400 departures were canceled between Aug. 8 and 11, while a further 52 cancellations were scheduled for Wednesday. More than 250 flights were diverted to nearby airports because of the volcanic ash cloud.
Flights suspended until Thursday
SAC, the operator of Catania Airport, announced that all arrivals and departures had been suspended until 16:00 local time, or 14:00 UTC, on Thursday because of the concentration of ash in the atmosphere. Closures in sectors of airspace affected by the ash cloud were also extended.
More than 100 of the diverted flights were sent to Comiso Airport in the province of Ragusa, while about 50 were sent to Palermo on Tuesday alone. Trapani Airport also accepted 22 flights.
Operations have fully resumed at Comiso Airport, where flights were temporarily suspended because of the volcanic ash. Passengers were advised to check the status of their flights with their airlines before traveling to the airport.
Sicily's tourism season affected
The disruptions affected thousands of residents and visitors in Sicily during the peak period of the summer tourism season.
Italy's Minister for Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, said the latest disruption had renewed concerns about the long-standing vulnerability of Catania Airport because of its proximity to Mount Etna.
Mount Etna, located on Sicily's eastern coast, is one of the world's most active volcanoes.