Volcanic Eruption Disrupts Bali: Over 30 Flights Canceled and Delayed

On Wednesday, November 13, seven domestic flights to Labuan Bajo, Tambolaka, Jakarta, Lombok, and Banjarmasin, along with 25 international flights, are canceled or delayed at Bali airport. Travelers face challenges reaching Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and those planning to arrive in Bali via Delhi and Doha will also need to adjust their plans.

Tourists are either staying longer in Bali or canceling flights to the island. While this causes significant financial losses for both travelers and airlines, the decision was made for passenger safety.

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi on Flores Island caused ash plumes to reach 9 km in height. This event, which occurred on Sunday, November 11, 2024, continues to affect flight safety as ash remains in the atmosphere. Several airlines, including Tigerair, Citilink, and Air Asia, have canceled or delayed flights to and from Bali. Australia’s largest airlines, Jetstar, Qantas, and Virgin Australia, have made the same decision.

Volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates on regular flights as soon as possible,” states an official statement from Jetstar. If conditions improve and airline experts can guarantee safe flights, Jetstar plans to operate two additional flights between Australia and Bali to assist affected passengers.

For domestic flights, airlines are offering passengers of canceled flights options for refunds, rescheduling, or route changes, according to Ngurah Rai International Airport’s General Manager, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab.

Five airports in East Nusa Tenggara have closed entirely due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi:

• Turelelo Soa Airport in Ngada Regency.

• Hasan Aroeboesman Airport in Ende Regency.

• Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai.

• Frans Seda Airport in Maumere.

• Frans Sales Lega Airport in Manggarai.

It remains unclear when they will reopen. Crews are awaiting information from the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) and the results of periodic tests to detect volcanic ash in the airports.

People near the volcano report that ash still covers much of the surrounding airspace, and strong winds could carry the ash further northwest toward Bali. Mount Lewotobi, about 500 kilometers from Bali, is impacting more than air travel. Ten people have lost their lives, and over 15,000 have been evacuated to safer areas due to this disaster.

If you have upcoming flights to or from Bali, stay updated via the airport website, as volcanic activity and unpredictable weather could change schedules at any time.

Sources: Antara, Nusa Bali, Indotren.