Etna ash suspends Catania arrivals, ripples reach Friuli

Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes, belched smoke and ashes in a new eruption on Saturday, forcing the suspension of arrivals at a nearby airport on Sicily, according to The Local Italy. The suspension at Catania airport, a major hub for the island, has disrupted flight schedules across Italy.

For Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the eruption's effects reach beyond Sicily. Trieste Airport and the region's other transport links connect to Catania through various Italian and European carriers, and the suspension has already caused delays and cancellations for travellers from the northeast.

The eruption is the latest in a series of volcanic events that have periodically disrupted air travel in the Mediterranean, highlighting the region's vulnerability to natural phenomena. While Catania's airport is expected to resume operations once the ash cloud disperses, the uncertainty has prompted airlines to reroute or cancel flights.