VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Flight cancellations continued at Malta International Airport on Wednesday morning as an ash cloud from Sicily’s Mount Etna drifted into the flight path to Malta.
Nineteen flights were cancelled on Tuesday, causing disruption for passengers travelling to and from the island.
Among Wednesday morning’s cancellations were a Swiss/KM Malta Airlines flight to Zurich and a Jet2.com service to Edinburgh. Transavia also cancelled an afternoon flight due to arrive from Paris Orly.
Several other flights were delayed as aircraft altered their usual routes to avoid the ash cloud. One pilot reported that the cloud was clearly visible from high altitude.
Some aircraft have been approaching Malta from a more westerly direction and at a lower altitude than usual.
Malta International Airport advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.
The airport said passengers whose flights have been cancelled are being guided by ground handlers towards alternative arrangements before entering the departures lounge.
Mount Etna, about 220 kilometres north of Malta, is Europe’s most active volcano. Its ash clouds have occasionally forced aircraft travelling to and from Malta to alter course, although a direct impact on Malta airport operations is rare.
Catania Airport, just a few kilometres from Etna, has been forced to close several times in recent weeks, with flights cancelled or diverted to Palermo.
The disruption also affected local festivities. Attard’s Soċjeta Mużikali la Stella Levantina postponed a planned fireworks display on Tuesday because of the ash cloud and airport restrictions.
The society said the fireworks site is close to the runway approach and that, after consulting authorities, it decided to postpone the display while restrictions remain in place.
– photo Maltese Islands Weather –
(ITALPRESS).
