Catania Airport Reopens as Etna's Ash Disruption Eases

Sicily's Catania airport 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, which began earlier in the week, stranded hundreds of summer holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year, as France 24 reported.

The airport's reopening came as the eruption began to die down, allowing authorities to clear ash from the runways and resume operations. France 24 noted that Catania's airport had been closed for the fifth consecutive day as of Friday, with the facility initially expected to remain shut until early August 15.

For travellers from Trentino-Alto Adige, the disruption has been a reminder of how a single event in one part of Italy can ripple through the country's summer travel network. Many holidaymakers from the region, heading to Sicily for the Ferragosto week, faced delays and cancellations as airlines scrambled to adjust schedules.