Erupting volcano about 150km west of Denpasar airport prompts Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Garuda Indonesia to cancel flights to and from Denpasar

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Airports were closed across parts of Indonesia due to a volcanic ash cloud from the eruption of Mount Ruang leaving thousands of international travellers stranded.

Bali holidaymakers were among the worst affected, with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Garuda Indonesia cancelling flights to and from Denpasar airport.

The cancellations, now in the third consecutive day, follow on from cancellations across the first few days of July after Mount Raung erupted on 2 July.



Garuda Indonesia (@IndonesiaGaruda) Breaking News: due to the eruption of Mt Raung, the airports of DPS Bali, LOP Lombok, JBB Jember, & BWX Banyuwangi are now being closed.

The volcano is about 150km to the west of Denpasar airport – the main airport for those heading to Bali – in east Java.



The latest round of cancellations began on Wednesday evening and extended into Thursday as winds pushed the ash cloud closer to the facility.



Jetstar and Virgin Australia are issuing regular updates on the situation, which is being continually assessed.



ABC News (@abcnews) Mt Raung continues to spew ash into the Indonesian sky, disrupting #Bali flights, let us know if you're stranded! https://t.co/eTVbNKmX4e

A Virgin spokeswoman said it was hard to predict weather conditions and the airline was keeping a close eye on the situation and taking advice from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre based in Darwin.



The Insurance Council of Australia has advised travellers to confirm the compensation or alternative arrangement details of their travel insurance policies.



Both Jetstar and Virgin have said there will be additional flights between Australia and Bali, as soon as conditions improve. Virgin customers can change their booking to another flight within 14 days at no extra charge or receive a full travel credit.

British tourist Victoria Welsby said there were about 1,700 travellers stranded in Bali due to the cancellation of flights and that all that she and her partner could do was wait until services resumed.

“So now we sit tight. We cannot do anything more. All the time we are stuck here we are having to pay for accommodation and food. People are really scared about the lack of communication and how we will get out of this situation.

Volcanic ash cloud prompts Virgin Australia to cancel all flights to Bali Read more

“We are completely in limbo. My insurance company will not help, claiming that this is a ‘natural disaster’.”

Melbourne man Brendan McCarthy was told his flight home from Bali on Friday had been cancelled until at least Monday.



Other travellers were being told their flights could be delayed until 23 July, he said.



“We’ve been here for two weeks, have changed accommodation three times now,” McCarthy said.

As well as missing work, medical appointments and sporting commitments, he and his girlfriend are also facing additional unplanned travel costs that they hope to recoup through travel insurance.



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