More Bali-Australia Flight Cancellations Anticipated As Volcanic Eruptions Worsen In Flores 

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Bali is seeing travel chaos unfold in real time as flights are canceled due to volcano ash impacting air travel between Indonesia and Australia.

A drifting ash cloud originating from Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in the Flores Islands has made it unsafe for aircraft to pass through the area. Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, which is around 800km from Bali, has been erupting since 3rd November. 

The first major volcanic eruption was recorded on 3rd November 2024, when hot ash erupted to a height of over 2000m around midnight. Some of this ash fell on nearby villages, and at least nine people were killed as a result of the subsequent eruptions.

Over the last week, flight delays and cancellations have occurred between domestic flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo, the gateway to the Flores Islands.

Now, the ash cloud is impacting international flights, with more cancellations predicted for the coming days. Flight cancelations have also been announced between Bali and South Korea, Singapore, India and Qatar.

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On Wednesday, all major airlines operating flights between Bali and Australia canceled their services after eruptions of volcanic ash continued to spew, and the ash cloud drifted further toward Bali Province.

Ninety flights were affected on Wednesday, 13th November, with more travel chaos expected at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in the coming days.

The General Manager of Bali Airport, Ahmad Syaugi Shabab, has confirmed that no volcanic ash has been detected over Bali and that, otherwise, the airport is operating normally.

He stated, “These [findings] are also reinforced with information and prediction of the direction of volcanic ash by BMKG and airspace observation based on the monitoring of Perum LPPNPI and pilot report.”

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Shabab told reporters, “Due to natural events that impact this flight, the airline gives passengers a choice for refunds, rescheduling, or re-arranging routes.”

A help desk has been set up on the 2nd floor of the international terminal building and in the domestic terminal building. All airlines that have canceled flights, including Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and AirAsia, have committed to supporting passengers impacted by flight cancellations. 

Domestic travel heading east of Bali is also widely impacted; travelers set to fly between I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Kuoang (KOE), Labuan Bajo (LBJ), Tambolaka (TMC), Waingapu (WGP), and Ende (ENE) should also check with their airline regarding flight cancellations or delays. 

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Major airlines such as Jetstar have stated that they will not be considering resuming flights until midday Thursday, 14th November. In a statement, the airline explained, “We understand that this is a difficult situation for impacted customers. Safety is always our number one priority, and we thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”

Adding “Impacted customers will be notified directly and will be provided with a range of options. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are planning to add extra flights to get customers to their destination as soon as possible.”

Qantas has shared, “Impacted customers will be notified directly and provided with their options. We understand that this is a frustrating situation for customers with travel planned.”

“Please be assured that safety is always our number one priority, and we thank you for your patience and understanding. We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide an update as soon as possible.”

With the ash cloud continuing to drift and more eruptions being recorded, more flight delays and cancellations are anticipated. Travelers set to fly to or from Australia, India, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Qatar should be braced for travel disruptions. 

Up to the minute, information regarding flight changes will be available on each airline’s website and social media channels, and I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is also sharing information on their Instagram stories as new details emerge. 

Travelers who are stranded in Bali and need to return home urgently or have additional needs to be taken into consideration should also contact their consulate for support.