- Flights to Bali cancelled due to volcanic ash clouds
- The volcano erupted over the weekend
- Australia warns volcanic ash could drift into northern parts of the country
Flights to Bali cancelled due to volcanic ash clouds
Several airlines have suspended flights to and from Bali as dangerous ash clouds from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki threaten air travel safety. The volcano, located near the popular Indonesian tourist destination, erupted over the weekend, sending a towering ash plume 9km (6.2 miles) into the sky. It comes just a week after a major eruption from the same volcano killed 10 people.
Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and other airlines including Cathay Pacific, IndiGo, and AirAsia announced flight cancellations on Wednesday, citing unsafe conditions. Jetstar stated that all its flights to and from Bali would be grounded until at least 12:00 AEDT on Thursday (04:00 GMT). Virgin Australia emphasised that passenger safety remains its highest priority, with its meteorology team closely monitoring developments.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology also warned that volcanic ash could drift into northern parts of the country, potentially affecting additional air traffic.
Bali’s international airport has seen significant disruptions, with 22 international and 12 domestic flights cancelled on Tuesday, according to the airport’s general manager.
Indonesia, home to 130 active volcanoes, lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to frequent volcanic eruptions and seismic activity. Past eruptions, such as one from Mount Merapi in 2020, have also caused significant aviation disruptions.