Volcanic Eruption in Bali, 24 Flights Cancelled at Bali Airport
I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport authorities announced that a total of 24 flights, both departures and arrivals, were cancelled on Monday. Additionally, several flight operations were disrupted due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki located in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.
A total of 24 cancelled flights include both domestic and international routes. Virgin Australia suspended six flights to Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Sydney. Meanwhile, Jetstar Airways cancelled 16 flights bound for Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, and Singapore. AirAsia Indonesia cancelled two flights to Labuan Bajo.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted at 11:05 WITA, spewing an ash column 18 thousand meters high from its peak. In response to this event, the management of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport emphasized that all relevant airport agencies are continuously monitoring the situation in an integrated manner. Based on observations until Monday afternoon, the movement of volcanic ash does not affect Bali's airspace, so flight operations continue to run in a controlled manner.
El Tari Kupang Airport management also informed that four flights from Kupang to Flores Island were cancelled as a precautionary measure against the eruption's impact. Two airlines, NAM Air and Wings Air, cancelled several flights from El Tari Kupang Airport to Frans Seda Maumere Airport and vice versa, as well as flights to Larantuka, East Flores, and the return routes.