Airlines Resume Flights to Bali After Volcanic Eruptions
Flight Cancellations and Resumptions
Several airlines resumed flights to Bali on Thursday, after cancelling trips to and from the Indonesian resort island due to huge eruptions at a nearby volcano. Eighty-three international routes were cancelled on Wednesday, the general manager of Bali’s international airport said in a statement, after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spewed a nine-kilometre (5.6-mile) tower of ash into the sky.
Qantas and Jetstar Resume Services
Qantas and Jetstar were resuming their services to Bali, Australia’s Qantas Group said in a statement Thursday, noting "improved" conditions. Two delayed Qantas flights from yesterday were among those set to take off, Qantas said. "We will continue to monitor the changing conditions and volcanic activity," it said in the statement.
AirAsia and Virgin Australia Resume Flights
AirAsia planned to resume some flights to and from Bali later today, the company said in a statement to AFP, while Virgin Australia said on its website it would resume flights to and from Denpasar starting today. Singapore’s Scoot airline, meanwhile, said it had rescheduled flights from Singapore to Bali and Surabaya as well as their return flights due to Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s volcanic activity.
Airport Conditions
As of 3 am Thursday, Bali’s airport had recorded another 32 international flight cancellations, general manager Ahmad Syaugi Shahab said. He added that volcanic ash from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki had been heading away from the airport since Wednesday evening. "We hope affected airline passengers can resume their travel on Thursday," Ahmad said.
Volcanic Activity Continues
Lewotobi erupted again overnight into Thursday morning, and a thick ash column and lava flows could be seen pouring from its crater, according to the volcanology agency. The airport in the tourist hotspot of Labuan Bajo near the volcano reopened on Thursday, according to the airport’s Instagram account.
Background Information
Laki-Laki, which means "man" in Indonesian, is twinned with a calmer volcano named after the Indonesian word for "woman". Bali’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism but Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on Earth, straddling the Pacific Ring of Fire where tectonic plates collide.
Conclusion
The resumption of flights to Bali is a welcome relief for tourists and locals alike, but the situation remains volatile and airlines will continue to monitor the situation closely. The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is a reminder of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters and the impact they can have on global travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What caused the flight cancellations to Bali?
A: The flight cancellations were caused by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which spewed a nine-kilometre tower of ash into the sky.
Q: Which airlines resumed flights to Bali?
A: Qantas, Jetstar, AirAsia, Virgin Australia, and Scoot airline resumed flights to Bali.
Q: When did the airport reopen?
A: The airport in Labuan Bajo reopened on Thursday.
Q: What is the current situation with the volcano?
A: The volcano is still erupting, with a thick ash column and lava flows pouring from its crater.