Bali flights cancelled as volcanic ash reaches over 10km high

“The ash column was observed to be grey with thick intensity,” said Indonesia’s vulcanology agency in a statement, after it raised the country’s volcanic alert to its highest level.

In a travel alert on its website, Jetstar said impacted customers on eight flights “have been notified directly and provided a range of options”.

“At this stage, forecasts show the ash cloud is expected to clear by later tonight. As a result, this afternoon’s flights will be delayed to operate later this evening,” the travel alert reads.

“We are reaching out to customers on these flights to advise them of the delay. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will contact customers directly if there are any further changes to our schedule.

“Safety is always our number one priority, and we thank this morning’s customers for their patience and understanding.”

A Virgin Australia spokesperson also confirmed that 10 Bali flights to and from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast were cancelled.

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“The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and our team of expert meteorologists are continuing to monitor the situation,” the spokesperson said.

“Our team is working hard to ensure all passengers booked on our services get to their destination safely and as soon as possible, and we encourage guests travelling to or from Bali to check the latest updates on their flight status via the Virgin Australia website or app.

“We sincerely regret the disruption to our guests’ travel plans and thank them for their understanding and patience.”

Air New Zealand has also cancelled two flights: a return service between Auckland and Bali.

“Safety is always our first priority and we will only operate into and out of Denpasar when it is safe to fly,” it said in a travel alert.

The eruption is the fourth from Lewotobi Laki-Laki this year, and poses a significant hazard to aircraft, as volcanic ash can damage and obstruct engines if ingested.