Bali flights canceled due to dangerous volcanic ash

Several airlines have cancelled flights to and from Bali due to dangerous ash clouds from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, a volcano near the Indonesian holiday island. Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia advised passengers of the disruptions on Wednesday, stating that the ash from the volcano made it unsafe to fly. The volcano spewed a 9km ash column into the sky over the weekend, one week after a major eruption killed 10 people.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the volcanic ash might drift to parts of the country's north on Wednesday. Jetstar announced all flights to and from Bali until 12:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Time Thursday. Other airlines following suit include Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, India's IndiGo, and Malaysian carrier AirAsia. Virgin Australia, which cancelled all its flights to and from Bali on Wednesday, said safety is always their highest priority. Singapore Airlines and its low-cost carrier Scoot have similarly cancelled some flights, though Singapore's airport website shows that other flights to and from Bali have continued to run on Wednesday.

Jetstar said all flights to and from Bali until 12:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Time Thursday (04:00 GMT) have been cancelled. Other airlines which have followed suit include Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, India’s IndiGo, and Malaysian carrier AirAsia.

Virgin Australia, which cancelled all its flights to and from Bali on Wednesday, said in a statement: “Safety is always our highest priority, and our meteorology team is closely monitoring the situation.”

Singapore Airlines and its low-cost carrier Scoot have similarly cancelled some flights — though Singapore’s airport website shows that other flights to and from Bali have continued to run on Wednesday.

The general manager of Bali’s international airport Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, told Reuters that 22 international flights and 12 domestic ones had been affected on Tuesday, but did not provide details about Wednesday's flights.

Activities in Indonesia have also been affected by the volcanic ash.

A jazz festival in Labuan Bajo town, some 600km from Mount Lewotaobi Laki-laki, was postponed to next year due to safety concerns.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates, and has about 130 active volcanoes.

Past volcanic eruptions have disrupted aviation. In 2020, ash clouds from Mount Merapi shut an airport in the city of Solo.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ced9xy368x6o

Comprehension

Why have several airlines cancelled flights to and from Bali?
Which airlines announced cancellations due to the volcanic ash?
How high did the ash column from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki reach?
What did Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology warn about the volcanic ash?
Until when has Jetstar cancelled all flights to and from Bali?
How many flights were affected by the volcanic ash on Tuesday at Bali's airport?
What event was postponed in Labuan Bajo due to the ash cloud?
Why does Indonesia have a high number of active volcanoes?

Discussion

How do you think volcanic eruptions impact local businesses and tourism?
What might be the challenges airlines face when dealing with natural disasters like volcanic eruptions?
How important is it for airlines to prioritize safety over schedules during these situations?
How can airports help passengers who are stranded due to flight cancellations?
How would you feel if your travel plans were disrupted by a volcanic eruption?
What are some ways people can stay informed about travel disruptions caused by natural events?
How does volcanic ash affect airplanes and flight safety?
Do you think travelers should be prepared for unexpected events when traveling to areas with active volcanoes?
What role do government agencies play in managing natural disasters like volcanic eruptions?
How do natural disasters impact local events, such as the jazz festival in Labuan Bajo?

Vocabulary

Ash cloud - a large cloud of ash particles from a volcanic eruption.
Disruption - interruption or disturbance of an event or activity.
Spew - to forcefully expel something in large quantities.
Meteorology - the study of the atmosphere, often related to weather forecasting.
Priority - something considered more important than others.
Seismic - related to earthquakes or vibrations in the earth.
Tectonic plates - large sections of the Earth's crust that move and interact.
Aviation - the operation and design of aircraft.