Flights restored following volcano's disruption in Bali
A GOOD DAY IN BALI:Flights took off and landed on Bali once more on Thursday (Jun 19), following a day of disruptions caused by the eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, nestled in East Nusa Tenggara province, exploded on Tuesday, blasting ash a staggering 11km into the sky.
Over 80 flights to and from Bali were disrupted by this eruption on Wednesday. The affected flights included connections to Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and more.
On Thursday, departures from Bali were smooth as clockwork, reaching destinations such as Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and China, according to Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, an official at Bali airport. Airlines including Malaysia Airlines, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Singapore Airlines were among those operating these flights, Asmadi added.
The resumption of flights was well-received, with no reported hiccups in the process.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) restored two previously cancelled flights, SQ948 and SQ949, on Thursday. Initially scheduled for Wednesday night, SQ948 is now scheduled for Thursday night instead. Conversely, flight SQ949 arrived in Singapore from Bali on schedule.
SIA's budget carrier, Scoot, confirmed all flights on Thursday are proceeding as planned, although it remained silent on the specific measures taken to ensure flight safety.
Qantas and its subsidiary Jetstar confirmed their flights would run as normal on Thursday.
Flights operated by AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia Indonesia, which were halted since Wednesday, also resumed service to Bali, Lombok, and Labuan Bajo.
Two airports in East Nusa Tenggara province reopened on Thursday following a brief closure on Wednesday due to the volcanic eruption. However, authorities decided to extend the closure of Fransiskus Xaverius Seda airport in Maumere until Friday, as there was still some volcanic ash present in the air, posing a risk to flights.
Despite these recent eruptions, it appears that the impact on air travel has been minimal, with no significant disruptions or cancellations affecting major airlines like SIA, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and AirAsia as of the current information. The volcanic ash clouds may have reached significant altitudes, but no direct flight impacts have been documented, given the careful monitoring of the situation by airports and airlines in the region[1].
- In light of the resumption of flights to and from Bali, readers might find the top stories today to include lifestyle articles about the best beach resorts and spas to visit, along with travel advice for a smooth journey.
- As the weather clears in Bali, one might expect future stories to cover the latest trends in its thriving food and travel scenes, particularly those showcasing unique experiences that offer a mix of local culture and contemporary lifestyle.
