Catania Airport Resumes Flights After Three-Day Etna Ash Shutdown
Catania airport resumed full services Monday evening after volcanic activity at Mount Etna suspended all flights since Saturday, stranding thousands of passengers.
Flights at Sicily's Catania airport returned to normal on Monday evening, ending a three-day suspension triggered by intense volcanic activity at Mount Etna, the airport announced.
In a notice posted on its website, the airport said the alert status had been lifted and regular operations had been fully restored for travellers.
The shutdown had begun on Saturday, when severe volcanic activity at the nearby volcano forced authorities to halt all flights. Throughout Monday, passengers remained stranded at the island's largest airport as services stayed suspended, leaving thousands of travellers scrambling for alternative routes.
Terminal scenes showed crowds gathered outside and inside the building, with check-in counters closed and information screens displaying cancellations. One screen carried a bilingual message warning of "severe volcanic activity" and confirming that all operations were suspended.
Etna's eruptions frequently disrupt air travel at the airport, which lies about 30 kilometres (20 miles) south of the volcano. Volcanic ash is considered a serious hazard to aircraft because it can cause engines to stall.