ROME, Aug 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Catania airport in Sicily re-opened on Saturday after suspending flights for a week because of a volcanic eruption at nearby Mount Etna that spewed ash into the sky.

The airport said on its website that flights had resumed at 2:00pm (1200 GMT) following "the downgrade of the volcanic activity alert status from red to orange".

The suspension of flights disrupted plans for thousands of holidaymakers and raised questions about the future of the airport.

The airport began a series of closures on August 8 that were extended day by day.

The eruption also drew crowds of visitors to Mount Etna where spectacular lava flows could be observed close up.

At 3,324 metres (nearly 11,000 feet), Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and erupts frequently.

Around 12 million passengers transited in 2024 through Catania International Airport, which services the eastern part of Sicily, one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations.