IN PHOTOS | Europe’s most active volcano disrupts air travel

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Flights at Sicily’s Catania airport were suspended again on Wednesday as fresh ash emissions from Mount Etna — Europe’s highest and ⁠most active volcano — forced authorities to extend airspace restrictions, which disrupted travel during the peak summer holiday season.

The impact of the latest eruption was felt beyond Sicily, with flight cancellations and significant delays reported overnight in neighbouring Malta as volcanic ash drifted south across the Mediterranean.

Etna frequently disrupts operations at Catania airport, which is Sicily’s main gateway and Italy’s fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic. Here’s a look at the recent volcanic activities and their impact on travellers.

These photographs show lava flowing and smoke rising from the crater during an eruption of Mount Etna on July 5 and 6, respectively.

Smoke and red-orange lava spewing from the crater of an active volcano at dusk or dawn.

(Etna Walk/AFP/Getty Images)

Lava and smoke from a crate of an active volcano.

(Etna Walk/AFP/Getty Images)

Satellite imagery shows smoke spreading from Mount Etna on Tuesday.

A satellite view of an active volcano with its plume of dark smoke.

(European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2/Reuters)

A drone view shows lava flowing down a slope during an eruption on Tuesday.

Lava flowin down the slope of an active volcano at dawn.

(Giuseppe Di Stefano/Etna Walk/Reuters)

Travel disruptions have affected eastern Sicily since last week, when renewed volcanic activity and shifting winds began carrying ash across the region. Below, stranded passengers wait at the terminal following the closure of Catania airport due to an ash cloud from Etna on Monday.

(Marco Restivo/Etna Walk/Reuters)

Travellers packed inside a waiting area of an airport gate.

(Marco Restivo/Etna Walk/Reuters)

Pressure on other airports

Conditions appeared to improve on Wednesday, although Malta International Airport continued to warn passengers of possible disruptions.

The prolonged restrictions at Catania have placed additional pressure on Sicily’s other airports.

Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla said the city’s airport had absorbed 190 flights originally scheduled to arrive at or depart from Catania in recent days.

Comiso airport, a smaller facility south of Catania that has also been used in recent days to absorb tourist season traffic, has returned to full operations after suspending flights on Tuesday evening due to ash from Etna.