Major Travel Disruptions In Bali As Volcanic Eruption Impacts Dozens Of Tourist Flights

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Tourists planning to travel through Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport over the next 48 hours are advised to check in with their airlines before departure.

On Tuesday, June 17th, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in the Flores Islands erupted, sending an ash cloud 11km into the air. This triggered the authorities to implement the highest level of public safety warnings in the area. 

The 1,584m active volcano has been erupting intermittently since November 2024, and this is not the first time in recent months that volcanic activity from the peak has impacted Bali travel.

Authorities are doing all they can to minimize travel chaos in Bali and the surrounding islands. Major travel disruptions are expected in the next 24-48 hours.

In mountainous areas of East Nusa Tenggara, plumes of volcanic ash could be seen as far away as 90km and even 150km away. While the area remains on the highest alert level for public safety, no casualties have been reported during this latest round of volcanic activity. 

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A statement issued by Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport shared, “Due to volcanic activity of Mount Lewotobi, International flights to and from Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Shanghai, and New Delhi may be affected.”

The statement continues “Passengers are advised to check their flight status regularly and stay in touch with their respective airlines for further updates.” Domestic flights to Labuan Bajo and Semarang are also impacted by the volcanic eruption. 

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Video footage of the latest eruption has been widely circulated online and shows a massive plume of volcanic ash flying high into the air over East Nusa Tenggara. Mount Leotobi Laki erupted a second time in the early hours of Wednesday morning, sending another ash cloud 1km into the air. 

Flight cancellations, delays, and disruptions have affected many of Bali’s most in-demand airline services, including Jetstar. In a travel update published on its website at 4:34 a.m. on Wednesday, the airline reassured travelers that support would be available.

The statement explained that due to volcanic ash caused by an eruption of Mount Lewotobi in Indonesia, a number of Jetstar flights between Australia and Bali were canceled this morning.”

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Adding “Impacted customers 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. We are reaching out to customers on these flights to advise them of the delay.”

Singapore Airlines issued a statement to reporters to confirm that flights were affected until June 18th, including on the airline’s low-budget arm, Scoot. The airline told reporters, “As the situation remains fluid, other SIA flights between Singapore and Indonesia may be affected. Customers may visit our flight status page for the latest information on their flights.”

Scoot Airlines saw five major flight cancellations early on 18th June: three Singapore-Denpasar flights and two that were due to arrive in Singapore from Lombok. Scoot announced, “Scoot apologises for the inconvenience.”

The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation and will adjust our flight schedule as necessary.” Other impacted airlines include Air India, TigerAir Singapore, and Juneyao Airlines China.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs has issued updates regarding travel safety in Indonesia following the eruption.

In an update published on Smartraveler, the authorities shared, “Some flights between Australia and Bali have been canceled or postponed due to volcanic ash from Mt Lewotobi Laki-Laki.”

Adding ”If your flight is affected, contact your airline and insurance provider for alternative travel and accommodation arrangements.”

Updates can be found on the Bali Airport Instagram account and website, via AirNav Indonesia, and via each airline’s websites and social media accounts.

Travelers are also advised to check in with their local travel advice bureau, such as Smartraveller, to access information directly from their national foreign office.