Thousands of passengers flying in and out of Bali have been left stranded as Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas announced flight cancellations.
With Indonesia’s Mount Agung volcano erupting for the second time this week, major Australian airlines weren’t willing to risk flying through cloudy ash to reach their destination.
But the cancellations have meant customers were forced to sleep at the airport and face long hours with little information.
But the cancellations have meant customers were forced to sleep at the airport and face long hours with little information
Some of their frustrations were aired on Facebook, with customers either very pleased they had been moved to temporary accommodation or livid they had been left out
Qantas and Virgin took a similar stance and cancelled all flights to and from Australia travelling to the tourist hotspot
Some of their frustrations were aired on Facebook, with customers either very pleased they had been moved to temporary accommodation or livid they had been left out.
Jetstar has released a statement assuring passengers they have now recommenced international flights to and from the region.
‘Our senior pilots, using information and forecasts from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, have assessed the latest conditions in Bali following the eruption of Mount Agung and deemed that conditions have improved and it is safe to fly,’ it read.
Passengers aired their complaints on social media as they waited for updates from the airlines
On Saturday Jetstar diverted three flights heading to Bali and cancelled six flights ready to leave the island.
‘Following an eruption of the Mount Agung volcano in Bali, Indonesia, it is not currently safe to operate flights around Denpasar Airport,’ the airline said in a statement at the time.
‘As a result we have cancelled flights to and from Bali this evening. Three flights that were en route to Bali have returned to Australia.’
On Saturday Jetstar diverted three flights heading to Bali and cancelled six flights ready to leave the island
Qantas and Virgin took a similar stance and cancelled all flights to and from Australia travelling to the tourist hotspot but Qantas has since reversed the decision
Customers have spent hours lining up for information about their flights
Qantas and Virgin took a similar stance and cancelled all flights to and from Australia travelling to the tourist hotspot but Qantas has since reversed the decision.
Customers are still waiting on Virgin to release an update.
Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency reminded passengers that only a small part of the island was affected by the latest eruption and their international airport in Denpasar was still operating.
With Schoolies underway, thousands of students have flocked to Indonesia or are expected to fly this week
A mere two hours after the eruption several airlines diverted or cancelled flights to and from Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai International Airport
After months of observation Mount Agung erupted on Tuesday, with grey ash spewing from the peak at 5.05pm local time.
With Schoolies underway, thousands of students have flocked to Indonesia or are expected to fly this week.
The Department of Foreign Trade is advising anyone travelling to Bali to always ‘exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia’.
Jetstar diverted three flights heading to Bali and cancelled six flights ready to leave the island
After months of observation Mount Agung erupted on Tuesday, with grey ash spewing from the peak at 5.05pm local time
The eruption was considered small although the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the danger zone around the volcano was ‘dynamic’ and could change at any time.
They advise people to stay out of the exclusion zone, which remains unchanged, and extends 7.5km from the volcano.
About 29,000 evacuees are currently living in shelters — that’s far less than the 150,000 people who fled their homes last month in fear the volcano would erupt.
A mere two hours after the eruption several airlines diverted or cancelled flights to and from Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai International Airport
The eruption of Bali’s Mount Agung volcano has caused major flight disruptions
The eruption has forced about 29,000 evacuees into emergency shelters (pictured)
The Australian government advises all Australian tourists in Bali to monitor local media, follow instructions from local authorities and ensure they have travel insurance.
The alert level remains at three after it was downgraded from the maximum level of four on October 29.
Agung has been rumbling intermittently since August.
The Australian government advises all Australian tourists in Bali to monitor local media, follow instructions from local authorities and ensure they have travel insurance
People sit together in an emergency shelter (pictured) in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia