Air travel to and from Indonesia’s most popular resort island, Bali, resumed today following a major disruption caused by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, which sent a massive ash plume 11 kilometers into the atmosphere earlier this week.
Operations at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar were halted temporarily on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and impacting tourism during one of the peak travel seasons.
Volcanic Activity Grounds Flights
The eruption of Mount Lewotobi, located in East Nusa Tenggara province, occurred early Tuesday morning and was classified by officials as a Category III (significant) event. The massive ash cloud drifted westward, posing a serious hazard to aviation safety in the region.
According to a statement by Angkasa Pura I, the airport operator, a total of 87 flights were affected. This included 66 international routes and 21 domestic flights. The international flights impacted involved major destinations such as Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Footage captured from nearby monitoring stations shows thick columns of ash billowing into the sky, blanketing nearby villages and disrupting visibility across key air corridors. Volcanic ash is highly abrasive and can severely damage aircraft engines and windshields, prompting airlines to err on the side of caution.
Flights Resume After Clearance
Today, Indonesian aviation authorities confirmed that conditions have stabilized, and ash concentrations in the atmosphere have subsided, allowing normal air traffic to resume.
“After a thorough safety assessment and improved weather conditions, flights have been allowed to operate as scheduled,” the statement read. “We advise all passengers to check with their airlines for real-time updates.”
Some airlines, including Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Garuda Indonesia, have announced additional flights to accommodate backlog passengers.
Ongoing Monitoring
Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) continues to monitor the volcano closely. Authorities have maintained a safety exclusion zone of 5 kilometers around Mount Lewotobi and urged residents to remain alert.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with high seismic and volcanic activity. The archipelago is home to over 120 active volcanoes, and eruptions can frequently disrupt travel and local life.
Tourism and Economic Impact
The temporary shutdown created ripples through the local economy, with hotels, tour operators, and local businesses reporting cancellations and no-shows.
“It was stressful for us and the guests,” said Kadek Suwirya, manager of a beachside resort in Seminyak. “We’re just glad everything is returning to normal quickly.”
Tourism officials are now urging visitors to continue their travel plans, assuring that Bali remains safe and operational.
