Italian airport reopens as volcanic eruption dies down

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”.

Catania airport in Sicily reopened on Saturday after suspending flights for a week because of a volcanic eruption at nearby Mount Etna that spewed ash into the sky.

Flights will be suspended until at least Saturday afternoon, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded.

Northerly winds are spreading the ash to Malta and northern Africa

Flights have been grounded and alternative transport is fully booked

Mount Etna's eruption sent ash clouds over Sicily, shutting down an airport and diverting nearly 200 flights during peak tourist season.

The eruption of Mount Etna continues to bring air traffic in Sicily to a standstill, forcing Catania–Fontanarossa airport to close temporarily as ash reached Malta and as far away as Libya.