Catania airport reopens as Etna eruption eases

Catania airport in Sicily reopened on Saturday after suspending flights for a week because of a volcanic eruption at nearby Mount Etna that spewed ash into the sky, according to The Local Italy. The closure stranded hundreds of holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year, with the airport shut for five consecutive days before reopening on August 15.

Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, has been sending plumes of ash and lava down its slopes, forcing authorities to halt operations at the island's main air hub. France 24 reported that the airport's closure disrupted summer travel, while Deutsche Welle noted the eruption had halted flights at the peak of the holiday season.

The reopening brought relief to travellers, but the episode has highlighted the fragility of southern Italy's transport links during a period of intense summer demand. For Puglia, which shares the Adriatic coast and depends on similar air and sea connections for its own tourism economy, the disruption serves as a reminder of how a single natural event can ripple through the region's travel infrastructure.