Australian tourists traveling to and from Bali are facing more delays and cancellations as volcanic ash and eruptions wreak havoc on flight schedules.
Many travelers heading to the Indonesian holiday island have had their travel plans thrown into disarray, while many others returning home are left stranded in Bali due to mass flight cancellations.
The chaos has been caused by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on the remote island of Flores, 1,000 kilometers east of Bali.
At least 174 domestic and international flights have been canceled in the last nine days.
Many major airlines will not consider resuming flights in and out of Bali until Thursday at the earliest.
All Jetstar flights to and from Denpasar airport have been canceled until noon on Thursday at the earliest.
“We will provide an update on flights scheduled to operate after 12 noon AEDT on Thursday,” a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘We understand that this is a difficult situation for affected customers. “Safety is always our number one priority and we thank customers for their patience and understanding.”
A passenger stranded at Denpasar’s Charlie Austin International Airport (pictured) said his flight on Wednesday was canceled and he would now fly on Friday. Mr Austin said: “It’s not ideal, it’s just one of those things, nothing can be done about it… stuck in Bali.”
Thousands of passengers are stranded at Denpasar International Airport (pictured) as major airlines are not considering resuming flights in and out of Bali until Thursday.
In its latest travel update, Qantas warned: “For customers planning to travel on Thursday 14 November, our weather team is closely monitoring the situation.
‘Added Qantas passengers will be informed by email or phone call of any impact to their scheduled flight by 10am on Thursday 14 November (AEDT).
Virgin Australia said it was proactively reaching out to affected passengers with alternative flight options.
“We are also contacting guests who have booked travel to and from Bali between Thursday (November 14) and Saturday (November 16) encouraging them to stay up to date on the latest flight information available through our website” , adds the statement.
British tourist Charlie Austin is among thousands of passengers stranded at Denpasar International Airport.
“It’s not ideal, it’s just one of those things, you can’t do anything about it… stuck in Bali,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
Austin was due to depart Wednesday afternoon after a three-day holiday, which has since been extended through Friday.
He said the flight cancellation meant he could “have a few more beers by the pool… and get a few more waves… a few more Bintangs.”
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on the remote island of Flores, 1,000 kilometers east of Bali. It exploded on Sunday, killing nine people and sending ash 9 kilometers into the air.
Stranded travelers are unable to fly out of the resort island of Bali and others are unable to return to Australia due to mass flight cancellations caused by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki.
In disturbing news for travelers, said Chris Elders, professor emeritus volcano expert at Curtin University’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Perth now flight disruptions could continue.
“Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki has been erupting since December 2023, but a cycle of particularly violent eruptions began in early November,” Professor Elders said.
“The fact that this volcano is about 800 kilometers east of Bali, on a completely different island (Flores), gives an idea of the strength of the eruption.”
Professor Elders said it is difficult to predict the length of eruptive cycles and whether they will continue at the same level of intensity.
“However, we know that volcanoes across Indonesia are prone to similar styles of explosive eruption and impacts on air travel will always be a risk, in addition to potentially more catastrophic effects for those living nearby,” he said.
Australian influencer Lauren Bullen, who lives in Bali with her partner and newborn baby, asked her two million Instagram followers for information after her flight was cancelled.
‘No, no, no, doesn’t anyone have information about flight cancellations in Bali? “I have a very important weekend in Australia,” said Ms Bullen.
Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, more commonly known as Denpasar International Airport, is “in principle still open.”
“We emphasize that based on the results of paper test observations, no volcanic ash was found in the Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport area,” said CEO Ahmad Syaugi Shahab.
“On Wednesday until 1:00 p.m. Bali time, there are 26 domestic flights, specifically 13 departures and 13 arrivals that were affected.”
“Meanwhile, there are 64 international flights, specifically 34 departures and 30 arrivals, that are affected.”
“In the case of international flights, there were flights that were canceled by the airlines based on their respective policies, taking into account flight safety aspects.”
“For services to passengers of affected flights, we have prepared a help desk located on the second floor of the international terminal and in the customer service area of the domestic terminal.”
The volcano erupted on Sunday, killing nine people while spewing ash 9 kilometers into the air.
Indonesian authorities have been trying to evacuate 16,000 residents 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 plane, mainly the propellers.
Volcanic ash can also reduce visibility, making flying even more dangerous.