Arrivals resume at Sicily's Catania airport after Etna eruption

The airport at Catania in Sicily, a top Italian tourist destination, reopened late Saturday afternoon after suspending arrivals when an eruption at nearby Mount Etna spewed volcanic ash.

"Following the downgrade of the volcanic activity alert level from RED to ORANGE, the resumption of flight operations has been authorised with immediate effect," Catania airport said in a statement.

"Airspace sectors are therefore back in operation and flight landing services are being gradually restored," it added.

Arriving flights were suspended Saturday morning "due to Etna's eruptive activity" and the "associated release of volcanic ash into the atmosphere".

The National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, which monitors Etna, on Saturday afternoon reported "the continuation of intense explosive activity" with "alternating phases of strong and less intense eruptions".

A plume of smoke could be seen billowing from the summit via a webcam on the Institute's website.

At 3,324 metres (nearly 11,000 feet), Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years.

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.