Volcanic Eruption Triggers Dozens of Flight Cancellations in Bali

After a nearby volcanic eruption, Dozens of flights to and from Bali were canceled, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and raising concerns for the island’s vital tourism industry.

Airlines including Singapore Airlines, Jetstar, AirAsia X, Batik Air, and Wings Air suspended flights due to the volcanic activity. According to Bali’s international airport website, at least 30 flights had been canceled by Wednesday.

The disruptions come after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on Indonesia’s Flores Island, erupted on Tuesday. The eruption sent a massive ash cloud more than 10 kilometers (six miles) into the sky, prompting authorities to raise the volcano’s alert level to the highest — Level 4.

Despite the eruption, Bali’s main airport in Denpasar remained open. Some airlines, such as Garuda Indonesia, continued checking in passengers. However, a Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation reported medium-intensity gray ash drifting northward. Flight data still showed some arrivals and departures scheduled for later in the day.

The country’s disaster agency confirmed ongoing volcanic activity, with seismic monitors detecting continuous tremors.

Indonesia’s transport ministry also announced that three airports—Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport (Maumere), Soa Airport (Bajawa), and Haji Hasan Aroeboesman Airport (Ende)—were closed due to the eruption but are expected to reopen by Thursday morning.

More than 14,000 passengers have been affected so far. The Director General of Civil Aviation, Lukman Laisa, urged airlines and airport operators to provide options like rescheduling, rerouting, or full refunds for those unable to continue their journeys.