The return of Raung wreaks havoc on holidays

FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2010 file photo, Mount Bromo spews volcanic materials as it erupts in this aerial shot taken from an Indonesian Air Force airplane that flies over Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia. The volcano is spewing towering clouds of ash, forcing several international airlines to cancel flights to the popular resort island of Bali Thursday Jan. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Trisnadi, File)
By Hannah Edensor


Virgin Australia has cancelled all flights in and out of Bali as volcanic ash spewing from the Mount Raung volcano continues to cause havoc.

Virgin says the eruption and unfavourable winds have created unsuitable flying conditions, and the airline is urging customers in Bali not to go to Denpasar airport until they have confirmed another booking.

The unfavourable winds are expected to continue throughout Wednesday.

Jetstar said it cancelled three flights yesterday and one today to Perth, as per the ABC, as well as two flights in and out of Melbourne.

The airline’s only morning outbound flight from Melbourne to Bali has been delayed from 9.15am to 1.15pm, with an update due later this morning.

The volcano has played havoc with flights since it began spewing the corrosive, silica-based ash in early July.

Virgin says it will provide another update on Wednesday evening, and in the meantime, advised passengers not to go to airports or contact the airline, but wait for updates via the website or SMS messages.

According to the ABC, Duty Forecaster at the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, Grace Legge, said ash plumes were not blowing over Bali at the moment, but there could be an aviation hazard later today.

“Volcanic ash itself, when it gets into the engine, it can get heated up and actually coat parts of the engine,” she said.

“It can become basically large chunks of glass almost. So if that goes through an engine it definitely will cause problems for it.”

The volcano continues to disrupt holiday plans in and out of Bali, particularly for Aussies, and follows the cancellation of numerous flights earlier this month that left thousands stranded.

Latest News