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No flights to or from the UK and Eire will land at Catania airport till 26 July.
Flights at Catania airport, on the southern Italian island of Sicily, are severely disrupted after a hearth on Sunday night time. Nobody was injured and the reason for the fireplace is as but unknown.
The airport was meant to reopen earlier this week however authorities have now mentioned that Terminal A, the place the fireplace occurred, will reopen on 24 July.
In the meanwhile, many flights are being cancelled or diverted to different airports in Sicily, that are struggling to deal with the sudden improve in passengers.
Catania’s Vincenzo Bellini Airport serves 91 locations of which 24 are home, in response to ItaliaRimborso. 100,000s passengers are predicted to be affected by the disruption.
Catania airport: Flights cancelled or moved to different airports
The state of affairs at Catania airport is creating chaos for each inbound and outbound passengers throughout Sicily’s busy summer time season.
As confirmed in a Discover to Airmen, no non-Schengen flights will land at or depart from Catania airport till 26 July. Non-Schengen international locations embody UK, USA, Eire, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria. Here’s a full list of non-Schengen international locations.
As well as, solely 4 flights will land at Catania airport per hour till 26 July.
Some airways are proactively cancelling all flights, such because the UK’s Jet2 which has cancelled all flights out and in of Catania till 3 August.
Whereas different airways are diverting flights to different airports round Sicily. However many passengers are solely being advised the place their flight go away from or land the night time earlier than they’re as a consequence of journey.
Catania airport have mentioned that they “are working to step by step enhance the airport operations.” Proof from the fireplace has now been collected and cleanup will start as we speak (Friday) in Terminal A.
The place are Catania flights being diverted to?
Flights are being diverted to different airports in Sicily corresponding to Palermo, Trapani and Comiso.
Comiso airport is a two-hour drive from Catania airport; each are on the east of the island. Whereas Palermo and Trapani are on the west of the island subsequently four-five hours drive from Catania.
Comiso and Trapani airports are considerably smaller than Catania airport so they’re reported to be battling the sudden improve in flights and passengers. They’ve been described as being “in chaos” and “below stress” as employees attempt to course of 6-7,000 extra passengers than ordinary in temperatures above 40C.
It has additionally been reported that Sigonella, a navy airport near Catania, might also begin to function diverted flights.
The right way to journey between Sicily’s airports
Authorities say that free shuttles are being supplied between Catania and Palermo, Comiso and Trapani airports, the place flights are being diverted to. They haven’t given additional data on the place they’re leaving from, capability or how to make sure you have a seat.
Nevertheless there are stories that data on this transport is being supplied to passengers at airports and on incoming and outbound flights.
Together with the free transport being supplied by the airports, Alibus has elevated the frequency of its shuttle buses between Catania airport and town centre. These may even cease at Catania’s fundamental practice station.
Trenitalia has elevated the frequency of trains between Catania and Palermo airports.
There are automobile rent firms at Sicily’s airports however these are more likely to be overwhelmed with demand.
Are you able to get to Sicily by practice or ferry?
Briefly, sure.
On the east of the island, the place Catania is, there are trains from Siracusa, a 1-hour drive from Catania, that take you to the Italian mainland the place you’ll be able to then connect with worldwide trains.
There are additionally ferries from Palermo to Naples and Genova. Test GNV.it for extra data on ferry routes.
Rome2Rio is a superb journey planning web site.
Catania airport cancellations: What ought to passengers do?
In case you are as a consequence of fly into or out of Catania airport, step one is to contact your airline or reserving agent to search out out in case your flight is operating.
This may be executed through their web site, app, e mail, telephone or social media channels corresponding to official Fb and Twitter accounts.
In the event that they contact you to say your flight can be diverted to a different airport, you may have the precise to simply accept the change or request a refund – particulars ought to be given of their communication to you.
Keep in mind that there’s more likely to be a delay in receiving your refund as airways could have many to course of.
What’s the recommendation from airways?
Airways are advising passengers to test their apps for flight data and updates.
Earlier this week Wizz Air issued a press release to passengers saying: “All affected passengers are being knowledgeable in regards to the schedule adjustments, supplied refund and rebooking choices in addition to resort lodging. Wizz Air can be conserving passengers knowledgeable through SMS/e mail about their flight’s standing on 18th and nineteenth of July.”
Italy’s ITA Airways is rerouting some flights to Comiso airport, additionally on the east coast of Sicily. It has suggested passengers to “test your flight standing on Flight Data earlier than travelling to the airport.”
Ryanair have mentioned: “All passengers who’ve been affected by a cancellation or an airport change can be notified of their choices.” They’ve additionally suggested passengers to test the Ryanair app for updates.
Eurowings mentioned yesterday (19 July) that every one of their flights can be out and in of Palermo till 22 July.
Jet2 have cancelled all flights out and in of Catania till 3 August.
Different European airways have been contacted for remark.
How have passengers reacted?
Travellers are taking to social media to specific their discontent.
Many have mentioned they haven’t obtained information on what is occurring with their flights, with some saying they’re ready on maintain on customer support telephone traces for upwards of an hour with no response.
Customers are annoyed that the airport was meant to reopen on Wednesday however their flights after that date are nonetheless being cancelled. One consumer mentioned: “Catania airport says it reopened as we speak however our flight for Thursday acquired cancelled. Must drive to Palermo for a flight.”
Others are tweeting about experiences of family and friends flying into or out of Sicily.
Sicily is on the centre of European ‘warmth storm’
Italy is at present within the grips of a serious heatwave. Palermo, Sicily’s greatest metropolis, is one in every of 16 Italian cities with heat warnings in place. Temperatures have reached 46°C and the heatwave isn’t forecast to interrupt till 25 July.
Watch the video above to see extra about Catania airport being closed.
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