Catania Reopens, But Etna's Ash Leaves Sardinian Travellers Wary

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, which began during the busiest travel week of the year, stranded hundreds of summer holidaymakers and forced airlines to cancel or reroute dozens of flights.

For travellers from Sardinia, the disruption was a direct hit. With direct flights between Cagliari, Olbia and Catania among the casualties, many islanders heading to Sicily for the Ferragosto holiday found themselves rebooking through Rome or Naples, or simply waiting out the closure.

The reopening brings relief, but the episode has underscored how fragile island-to-island connections remain when a single airport shuts down. As one travel agent in Cagliari put it, the week has been a reminder that the Mediterranean's busiest summer routes can be undone by a single plume of ash.