Italy's Catania airport has once again suspended flights due to volcanic ash from Mount Etna, the country's most active volcano. The airport, which is Italy's fifth-busiest by passenger traffic, announced on Monday that all arrivals would be halted until 4 pm local time (1400 GMT), according to a statement shared on Facebook by the airport operator, SAC. This is the latest disruption caused by Etna's ongoing activity, which has led to frequent flight cancellations in the region. Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily, is known for its frequent eruptions and is Europe's highest active volcano. This summer, however, has seen particularly intense ash emissions, creating significant challenges for air travel, especially during the peak holiday season. In July, the same volcano caused the airport to close for five consecutive days, a disruption that coincided with the Ferragosto holiday, a major Italian summer celebration. During this time, many people left cities for coastal and mountain destinations, leaving urban areas nearly empty. Volcanic ash poses a serious risk to aircraft, as it can be drawn into jet engines and cause them to stall. Boris Behncke, a researcher at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology’s Etna Observatory, emphasized the need for caution when volcanic ash is present. He noted that while Etna has had many eruptions in the past, this summer’s activity is unusual because the ash emissions from the volcano’s summit have been more persistent than in previous events. These emissions have not only affected Sicily but have also been carried by northerly winds to nearby regions such as Malta and northern Africa. The recent disruptions have had a ripple effect on local transportation and services. Airport operator SAC reported that 36 percent of nearly 2,000 flights scheduled to arrive in Catania between August 6 and 12 were cancelled, with over 600 flights diverted to other airports in Sicily and southern Italy. The sudden increase in demand for alternative transportation options led to sharp rises in taxi fares and car rental prices. As a result, Italian consumer association Codacons filed a complaint with the competition authority, accusing some businesses of price gouging during the travel chaos.