Travel chaos as volcano closes Indonesian airports

ASH spewing from a volcano on Indonesia’s main island of Java sparked chaos for holidaymakers as airports closed and international airlines cancelled flights to tourist hotspot Bali, stranding thousands.

Airports across Indonesia have been affected by the eruption of Mount Raung in East Java, although two have since reopened. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

Mount Raung in East Java province, about 150km (95 miles) from Bali’s international airport, has been rumbling for several weeks. The level of activity increased in the past week and on Friday it blasted ash and debris 3,800m (12,460 feet) into the air.

Government volcanologist Gede Suantika said the eruption forced authorities to close five airports due to the risks posed by volcanic ash, though two airports on Lombok island reopened yesterday afternoon. The transport ministry told airlines to avoid routes near the mountain. It said a decision about reopening other airports would be made later in the day.

Suantika said lava and ash fall from the 3,332m-high mountain on Indonesia’s most densely populated island also caused the government to urge people to stay away from a two-mile high danger zone around the volcano.

Evacuation of residents living near the volcano is still considered unnecessary, but authorities are urging people to wear masks.

Volcanic eruptions can cause significant and lengthy disruption to travel.

A 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokul volcano produced an ash cloud that caused a week of international aviation chaos, with more than 100,000 flights cancelled.

“Ash can clog engines and harm other parts of the aircraft,” said transport ministry spokesman Julius Adravida Barata.

Airports on the islands of Bali and Lombok as well as airports at Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java were closed late on Thursday. Barata said thousands of travellers were stranded.

Flights within Indonesia were already overbooked as tens of millions of the country’s Muslims pour out of major cities to return to their villages during an annual mass exodus to celebrate the end of the Islamic holy month.

The volcano has proved to be particularly problematic for Australians, who flock to Bali during Australia’s school holidays.

Dozens of flights between Australia and Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport by Australian carriers Jetstar and Virgin Australia have been cancelled over the past week.

Both carriers said they are looking into adding extra flights between Australia and Bali when conditions improve to help clear the backlog.

At Bali’s international airport, many travellers arrived not knowing about the eruption and flight cancellations. The airport blocked access to ticket counters, adding to the confusion.

Some tourists slept on benches or stood at flight information boards filled with “postponed” and “delayed” notifications. Others complained of a lack of information about their delayed flights.