Italy's largest airport on the island of Sicily has resumed normal service after suspending all flights since Saturday due to intense volcanic activity from Mount Etna.
Catania Airport on Sicily in Italy reopened Monday evening after suspending all flights for three days because of nearby Mount Etna's volcanic activity, which stranded thousands of passengers who had to urgently seek alternative routes to their destinations.
Catania Airport announced that conditions have returned to normal following the end of volcanic activity alerts, allowing full resumption of flight services.
Previously, the airport suspended all flights starting Saturday due to Mount Etna, one of Europe's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions, causing many passengers to be stranded inside and around the airport throughout the day. Although services began to resume in the evening, many travelers had already sought alternate travel options.
Images from the airport showed large numbers of passengers waiting for flight information, some queuing at service counters, while flight displays indicated cancellations and warnings about severe volcanic activity, noting that all services were suspended.
Catania Airport is located about 30 kilometers from Mount Etna, whose activity frequently disrupts local air travel because volcanic ash can pose dangers to aircraft, potentially causing engine failures or shutdowns.
Most recently, the airport confirmed it has lifted the alert status and returned to normal operations with full services resumed, though passengers are still advised to verify their flight status with airlines before departure.
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