KLM scraps Bali flights on volcanic ash concerns

Eruptions from Mount Rinjani, situated on the nearby island of Lombok, prompted authorities to close Bali Airport to all flights on Tuesday night.

An ash cloud from the Rinjani volcano on the Indonesian island of Lombok forced the closure of the country’s second biggest airport early on Wednesday.

Singapore Airlines has postponed several flights and said it was monitoring the situation.

“The wind has blown the volcanic ash towards Bali in such a way that it covers the sky around the airport, making conditions unsuitable for flying”, Yulfiadi Harjo told AFP on Wednesday.

The closure had caused 692 domestic and global flights to be cancelled by yesterday, website Kompas reported, citing the head of the local airport authority Yusfandri Gona.

Virgin Australia confirmed it had cancelled all flights for today and tomorrow to and from Bali as a result of the “unsafe” flying conditions, while Jetstar scrapped its Denpasar-bound flights for today and a few for tomorrow. Their flight to Japan to be there for Friday’s LPGA’s Toto Japan classic was canceled.

Indonesia has closed three airports Wednesday, including the main airport in Bali, after Mount Rinjani erupted in volcanic activity.

Bali Deputy Governor Ketut Sudikerta has visited Ngurah Rai airport to ensure the best service for affected passengers.

In July and August, tens of thousands of passengers were stranded when ash from Mount Ruang in East Java blew into flight paths at Denpasar Airport.

Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre released a statement saying eruptions were ongoing with ash “clearly discernible” and moving westwards. This is one of Indonesia’s 100 most active volcanoes.