According to local media reports, the eruption showered Catania and surrounding areas with ash and debris, bringing the airport to a standstill while significantly slowing road traffic in the area.

“Due to Etna’s eruptive activity and the fallout of volcanic ash, flight operations are suspended until 8pm,” airport authorities said on Monday morning while calling on holidaymakers to contact their airlines before travelling.

EasyJet was forced to either cancel or delay seven flights to and from Gatwick, as well as one service to Edinburgh. Wizz Air and British Airways have axed a total of three flights to and from the Sussex airport.

“Wizz Air continues to monitor the situation and will notify passengers on next steps and the status of their flights,” the low-cost carrier told TTG while easyJet said it was doing "all possible to minimise the impact for customers."

TTG has approached BA for comment.

This is the second time the Sicilian hub has been shut down in less than a month, as both Catania and Palermo airports were closed off due to raging wildfires scorching the island in late July.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Catania airport had been due to be Italy’s sixth busiest on Monday, with 235 flights scheduled to either arrive into or depart from the airport.

This week, Catania had 1,690 scheduled arrivals and departures. This included seven return flights from the UK.