Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has reported that volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, has spread as far as Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara. The ash is drifting to the west and southwest.
Since the first eruption on November 3, 2024, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki has had several more eruptions. On November 12, the eruption reached 9,000 meters above the summit, according to the Geological Disaster Mitigation and Volcanology Center.
BMKG’s Bastian Andriano noted that the volcanic ash from this eruption was observed at 30,000 feet (approximately 9,144 meters) above sea level, moving west at a speed of 18 knots. The intensity of the ash cloud has been increasing.
As a result of the ash cloud, flights have been affected. At Lombok Airport, spokesperson Arif Haryanto reported that operations have returned to normal after dozens of flights were canceled on November 13 due to the volcanic ash.
However, he cautioned that flight conditions could change depending on the wind direction and ongoing volcanic activity.
In Bali, 90 flights, both domestic and international, were canceled on November 13. Despite this, Ngurah Rai International Airport continued to operate and set up helpdesks at both the international and domestic terminals to assist travelers.
According to Ekonomi bisnis, TransNusa Airlines also canceled flights to and from Denpasar on November 13 and 14, citing safety concerns due to the eruption. TransNusa issued a statement that all canceled flights were done for the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft.
Berita satu reports that, several international airlines, including Jetstar, Qantas, and Virgin Australia, suspended flights to and from Bali on November 13 due to the ash cloud from the eruption.
Virgin Australia announced changes to its flight schedules, including the cancellation of flights to Sydney and Melbourne.
Jetstar also canceled all flights to and from Bali on November 14, stating that it was unsafe to operate flights due to the volcanic ash. Singapore Airlines (SIA) also confirmed the cancellation of two flights following the eruption.
Travelers who are affected can check the status of their flights by visiting the official websites of the airports involved. The two main airports affected are Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali and Lombok International Airport.
To check canceled flights, travelers can follow these steps:
1. Visit the official website of the airport ( https://bali-airport.com/en) or ( https://lombok-airport.co.id/en)
2. Select the “Departure” menu and click “Flight Status”.
3. Choose a domestic or international flight.
4. A list of canceled flights will appear.
This is the latest information on how Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s eruption is affecting flights in and out of Bali and Lombok.
Source: Beritasatu, Ekonomibisnis
Image: via FINNS Beach Club
