Flights to and from Bali have been canceled as ash clouds from Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano create hazardous flying conditions. Major airlines have grounded flights, impacting thousands of travelers amid ongoing eruptions.
Volcanic Ash Halts Flights
The ash cloud, reaching nearly 9 km (6.2 miles) high, has forced airlines including Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia to cancel flights in and out of Bali. Qantas and Jetstar alerted passengers about the cancellations, citing safety concerns over the dense ash spreading from the recent volcanic activity.
Jetstar announced that all Bali flights until Thursday at 12:00 AEDT (04:00 GMT) have been grounded, joining other airlines such as Cathay Pacific, IndiGo, and AirAsia in taking similar precautions. Virgin Australia reiterated that “safety is always our highest priority,” and assured passengers that its meteorology team is closely monitoring the situation.
Australia’s Warning as Ash Drifts Northward
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning, indicating that the ash could drift northward toward Australia, potentially affecting some northern regions. This warning heightened concerns among airlines and travelers.
The general manager of Bali’s international airport, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, reported that 22 international flights and 12 domestic ones were canceled on Tuesday, with further disruptions expected. The status of Wednesday’s flights, however, remained unclear.
Festival Canceled, Travel Plans Disrupted
In addition to aviation impacts, the ash cloud led to the postponement of a popular jazz festival in Labuan Bajo, located around 600 km from Mount Lewotobi. Organizers announced the festival would be rescheduled to next year due to health and safety concerns.
Mount Lewotobi’s latest eruption comes just one week after a similar eruption claimed ten lives, underscoring the risks in Indonesia, a country with over 130 active volcanoes. Located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Indonesia frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity, which has repeatedly affected air travel in the region. Past events include the 2020 eruption of Mount Merapi, which closed Solo’s airport in Java.
The recent eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has thrown travel plans into chaos and highlights the dangers that Indonesia’s volcanic activity poses to aviation. With further eruptions possible, travelers to Bali and nearby regions face uncertainty. Airlines are monitoring the situation closely, prioritizing passenger safety as Bali’s skies remain under a veil of ash.
