Volcano ash grounds Bali flights

Ash drifting from an Indonesian volcano has forced the cancellation of more than 100 flights and closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali, an official said Friday, stranding thousands of holidaymakers.

Indonesia’s flag-carrier Garuda said it had cancelled a total of 112 flights.

Passengers travelling between Australia and Bali will have to wait and see if their flights take off as a volcanic dust cloud invades the Indonesian island’s air space.

VIRGIN Australia has cancelled additional flights due to depart for Bali with ash cloud hovering over Denpasar airport.

Virgin said it would review the situation and make a decision on whether it was possible to resume services to and from Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport at noon Sydney time on Friday.

This suggestion might not go anywhere, but it would have to be among the possibilities if the plumes of ash from East Java’s Mt Raung continue to be blown too close to Denpasar airport’s airspace for safe operations.

Friends whose Garuda flight to Melbourne was scheduled to leave at 11.30pm only learned their flight had also been cancelled as they were waiting to get in line.

“Our operations team is looking to put on additional services in and out of Bali over the coming days, subject to flying conditions improving”.

He said ash from the mountain’s eruption had reached the airport runway.

“We’re still going this afternoon at this stage”, Michelle Williams, who plans to fly to Bali with her family today, said.

“A fantastic holiday is now having a really bad ending”, Mr McCarthy said.