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. 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.