Catania airport reopens after Mount Etna eruption

Catania airport in Sicily reopened on Saturday after suspending flights for a week because a Mount Etna eruption sent ash into the sky.

The airport said flights resumed at 2:00pm local time, 1200 GMT, after the volcanic activity alert was downgraded from red to orange.

The airport began a series of closures on August 8 that were extended day by day. The disruption affected thousands of holidaymakers and raised questions about the airport's future.

The eruption also drew visitors to Mount Etna, where lava flows could be seen close up.

Etna, at 3,324 metres, is Europe's tallest active volcano and erupts frequently. Catania International Airport handled about 12 million passengers in 2024 and serves eastern Sicily, one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations.