Flights serving Catania airport in Sicily were halted on Tuesday after an eruption from nearby Mount Etna.
The airport operator said ash fallout was the cause of the closure. It brings fresh travel woe during the peak summer tourist season.
The statement said that authorities had decided on “the suspension of all incoming and outgoing flights.”
“The suspension will result in cancellations and/or rerouting to other airports,” it added, saying normal operations would resume once the ash fallout had ended.
Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has seen intense activity in recent days,
Catania airport also closed earlier this month due to ash in the sky. It acts as a hub for the east of Sicily and attracts more arrivals than the capital Palermo.
Freight derailment resulted in cancelled trains
The airport closure follows the suspension of high-speed and regional trains, which came into force from 10pm yesterday following the derailment of freight wagons in Centola.
The regions affected by the suspension were – in addition to Campania – Sicily, Calabria and Basilicata.
State Railways announced alternative bus services to guarantee territorial continuity for both long-distance and regional trains.
