Travel chaos as volcano ash suspends Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia and AirAsia flights to and from Bali
Flights between Australia and Bali have been grounded due to multiple volcanic eruptions near the popular holiday island, throwing hundreds of passengers’ travel plans into disarray.
Jetstar and Virgin Australia have canceled flights due to ash clouds from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia, which has seen several eruptions in recent days.
Qantas also delayed two flights between Sydney and Denpasar due to the movement of the volcanic ash cloud towards Denpasar Airport.
The delayed flights have been moved to today.
One AirAsia plane bound for Bali left Perth on Tuesday evening, but a later plane was delayed.
Two flights scheduled for this morning have been cancelled.
Christine Sutherland is among hundreds of affected travelers whose holiday plans have been thrown into chaos.
“We are a group of 20 people and all our flights have been cancelled,” she said Perth Now.
Schoolchildren were seen running away from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia when it first erupted (pictured)
Residents watch the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki from the village of Eputobi
‘We are trying to find accommodation for the night, while room costs are now increasing by 40 percent.
‘We have rebooked our flight for Wednesday evening, so we hope we can leave.’
The active volcano on the remote island of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province, has seen increased activity, forcing authorities to expand the danger zone. 9 News reported.
The volcanic ash plume has risen to an altitude of 5,500 meters.
Travelers are urged to contact their airline to check for any flight changes or cancellations.
Travelers are urged to contact their airline to check for any flight changes or cancellations.
It is up to airlines to make the decision to fly under the circumstances.
Holidaymakers stranded at Perth airport after Jetstar and Virgin Australia canceled their flights to Bali (pictured)
Travelers are urged to check if their flight has been canceled or delayed (photo of tourists at Kuta beach in Bali)
The volcano erupted on Sunday, killing nine people and spewing ash nine kilometers into the air.
Indonesian authorities have attempted to evacuate 16,000 people from nearby villages as the eruptions continue.
It is dangerous to fly with volcanic ash in the air because it is abrasive and hard, which can damage parts of the aircraft, especially the propellers.
Volcanic ash can also reduce visibility, making it even more dangerous to fly.