MEXICO CITY — An airport serving Mexico’s fourth-largest city suspended operations for seven hours because of volcanic ash from the Popocatepetl volcano.

The international airport in Puebla was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, said Puebla airport spokesman Herbert Lopez Palma.

Palma said the airport re-opened after the ash stopped falling and the airstrips were cleaned up.

The temporary closure affected six domestic and international flights to Houston and Dallas, Texas.

The airport is east of Mexico City and about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) volcano.

At the Mexico City airport, Alaska Airlines on Friday canceled its daily flight to and from Los Angeles.

Authorities said this week that a lava dome is growing inside the crater and could cause further eruptions.

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  • A cloud of volcanic ash shoots up to the sky as Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, erupts after daybreak, viewed from Legazpi in Albay province in the central Philippines, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. At least five climbers were killed and more than a dozen others are trapped near the crater in its first eruption in three years, officials said. Rescue teams and helicopters were sent to Mayon volcano to bring out the dead. (AP Photo/Allan Imperial)

  • In this photo released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), a mushroom of volcanic ash shoots up to the sky from Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, after daybreak as seen from Legazpi city, Albay province, about 450 kilometers (285 miles) southeast of Manila, Tuesday May 7, 2013. (AP Photo/PHIVOLCS)

  • A cloud of volcanic ash shoots up to the sky as Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, erupts after daybreak, viewed from Legazpi city in Albay province in the central Philippines, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Allan Imperial)

  • Rescuers assist Nicas Mabao Jr., center, after surviving a steam-driven explosion of Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, Tuesday May 7, 2013 in Albay province about 450 kilometers (285 Miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Nelson Salting)

  • Rescuers place Nicas Mabao Jr. on a spine board after surviving a steam-driven explosion of Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, Tuesday, May 7, 2013 in Albay province, about 450 kilometers (285 Miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Nelson Salting)

  • Police and rescuers carry Nicas Mabao Jr. to a waiting ambulance after surviving a steam-driven explosion of Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, Tuesday May 7, 2013 in Albay province about 450 kilometers (285 Miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Nelson Salting)

  • A cloud of volcanic ash shoots up to the sky as Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, erupts after daybreak, viewed from Legazpi city Tuesday, May 7, 2013. (AP Photo/ABS-CBN)

  • Volcano Mount Mayon spews a thick column of ash 500 metres (1,600 feet) into the air, as seen from the city of Legazpi, albay province, southeast of Manila on May 7, 2013. (Charism SAYAT/AFP/Getty Images)

  • A mushroom of volcanic ash shoots up to the sky as Mayon volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, spewed huge rocks and ash after daybreak, viewed from Legazpi city Tuesday, May 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Alex Sallan)

  • The Mayon volcano is seen from a plane over Legaspi City, Albay province, south of Manila on May 4, 2010. (TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)

  • In this Dec. 23, 2009 file photo, a column of ash shoots up to the sky in a mild eruption of the cloud-covered Mayon volcano as viewed from Legazpi city in Albay province, 500 kilometers southeast of Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)

  • Evacuees affected by the Mayon volcano unload their belongings from a military truck as they return home in the outskirts of Legazpi City, the Philippines’ Albay province on January 2, 2010. (Charism SAYAT/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Evacuees affected by the Mayon volcano unload their belongings from a jeepney as they return home in the outskirts of Legazpi City, the Philippines’ Albay province on January 2, 2010. (Charism SAYAT/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Lava cascades on the slopes of Mayon volcano as seen from Legazpi City, Albay province, 330 kilometres southeast of Manila December 29, 2009. (TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Mayon volcano emits ash into the air as seen from Legazpi City, Albay province, 330 kilometres southeast of Manila on December 28, 2009. (TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)