Volcanic ash throws cloud over Bali flights

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Volcanic ash throws cloud over Bali flights

Updated

Australians travelling to and from Bali can expect to see their plans delayed after flights resumed on Sunday.

Friday’s volcanic eruption on Mt Sangeang in Indonesia grounded flights between Denpasar and Australia and to and from Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Ash spews from the Sangeang Api volcano off the north-east coast of the Indonesian island of Sumbawa.

Ash spews from the Sangeang Api volcano off the north-east coast of the Indonesian island of Sumbawa.Credit: @DoniYsm via Twitter

Fairfax journalist Jesse Hogan, who had planned a short break in Bali, has had his stay made even shorter.

"All flights are now resumed but now they are playing catch up, waiting for the airplanes to return back from Bali," Mr Hogan said.

"I was told to fly to Sydney at 8am [from Melbourne] for an 11am fight to Bali and now that’s been pushed back to 4pm,

"It’s not the end of the world, I’m sure there’s people who've been worst affected then I am," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had told Australians in a statement to double check any flights to and from Bali and Darwin. Airlines also advised travellers to check the status of their flights.

On Sunday morning, Virgin Australia tweeted that its flight operations would resume later in the day.

Flight Operations into & out of Denpasar & Darwin will resume today. Please check Flight Status here: http://t.co/qGU8liegLJ

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— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) May 31, 2014

After the cancellation of 10 flights, Jetstar Airways, followed suit with a statement that indicated all services would resume by the late afternoon.

"Jetstar is pleased to advise that all services to and from Darwin are set to resume from 4:30pm [AEST] on 1 June 2014 as the ash cloud dissipates. All services to Bali [Denpasar] are expected to operate on 1 June as well," the statement said.

Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss, released a statement on Sunday to reassure those impacted that updates would be provided as they came to light.

"Airservices Australia's National Operations Centre would be working with airlines to minimise disruption for the travelling public," he said in the statement

"Decisions on whether or not flights will operate will be made by individual airlines and operators based on a careful assessment of all available information," he said.

Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre manager at the Bureau of Meteorology in Darwin, Emile Jansons, said the ash cloud had affected Australian air space from Saturday.

"It has currently reached the Australian coast. It has reached the Kimberley coast [in Western Australia]," he told AAP.

"It is spreading east and it may dissipate, so it is not clear how far east it will get.

"It is not yet clear if it will affect the eastern seaboard."

Mr Jansons said volcanic ash can be hazardous to aircraft but the decision whether or not to fly is a safety and economic decision that rests with individual airlines.

Airports in Singapore and Bali are operating as normal according to a Qantas spokeswoman.

- with AAP

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