Jetstar and Virgin Australia Cancel Bali Flights

3rd Nov 2015

Australian carriers Jetstar and Virgin have cancelled flights from and out of Bali for the second time this year after they received a warning from the meteorologists and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre that the area around Denpasar Airport is unsafe for flying due to eruptions from Mt. Rinjani.

The two airlines previously canceled flights on several occasions in July and August after another active volcano, Mount Raung, started spewing ash clouds into the air, disrupting visibility for aircrafts and radar control towers.

Both carriers issued statements, saying they will monitor the situation further and wait for expert advice before further action.

Jetstar said:

"We will resume flying as soon as it is safe to do so and we will update customers if poor flying conditions lead to further cancellations."

In a statement of its own, Virgin Australia wrote:

"We continue to monitor the situation closely. The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we will keep customers updated as new information becomes available."

The carriers advised those already in Bali not to travel to the airport unless they have a rebooked flight confirmed.

Other airlines will continue to operate in and out of the Indonesian island, so passengers still have an option to leave Bali for the moment.

The news was a blow to would-be Bali tourists, as they will now have to cancel their plans.

Jan Hansson from Rockingham said he learned about his flight being cancelled only after she arrived at Perth Airport this morning with her friends:

"We've come all the way and we haven't got a ride home. I'm not happy. But they can't do anything about it. I suppose they've got to be safe."

Neither Virgin nor Jetstar were able to tell their customers when the situation will be resolved.