Brussels Airlines passengers returning from Sicily faced delays of up to three days after volcanic ash from Mount Etna forced Catania Airport to suspend flights over the weekend. The airport, Sicily’s busiest, remained closed throughout Sunday, 27 September, after an initial suspension on Saturday was extended.
Brussels Airlines rebooked affected passengers on other services, including connections through Rome and Munich. Spokesperson Joëlle Neeb said on Sunday that most were expected to reach Brussels that day or on Monday, with the last passengers due to arrive on Tuesday.
Some flights were diverted to Palermo. A Brussels Airlines flight to Brussels departed from there on Sunday, while a TUI fly Belgium flight carrying 135 passengers who had been stranded on Saturday also left Palermo the following day.
The extended closure put pressure on airlines trying to accommodate passengers across Sicily. Volcanic ash can pose a hazard to aircraft engines, and flights can resume only when conditions permit safe operations.