Flydubai says Europe flights schedule unaffected by Mount Etna eruption

Budget carrier operates flights to Catania in Sicily after volcano erupts in the eastern side of the island

Budget carrier Flydubai, which serves Catania in Sicily, said its service to Europe was not disrupted after an ash cloud from Mount Etna on the Italian island temporarily shut down Catania's airport.

Italy's Catania airport on Sicily's east coast resumed full operations a day after an ash cloud from Europe's highest and most active volcano, Mount Etna, forced authorities to shut the airport down.

Flydubai's flight operations to Europe, including Catania, are running as normal, an airline spokeswoman said in an emailed statement in response to questions.

The Dubai-based budget carrier serves the Sicilian town of Catania, nestled at the foot of Mount Etna, four times weekly. It began flights to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, which is 4.3 km southwest of Catania, on June 13 with Boeing 737 Max 8 jets.

Emirates has a codeshare on Dubai-Catania route as part of its partnership with sister carrier Flydubai that was announced in July 2017.

Mount Etna, at 3,300 metres high, is the biggest active volcano in Europe, with frequent eruptions recorded in the past 2,700 years. Its most recent eruptions occurred in the spring of 2017 and its last major eruption in the winter of 2008.

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An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 hit an area north of Catania on the slopes of Mount Etna early on Wednesday, damaging buildings and injuring about 30 people, two days after Mount Etna erupted, Reuters reported, citing officials.