Flights to Bali halted following eruption of Indonesian volcano
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, the towering 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) volcano on Flores island, slid back into activity on June 18, 2025, triggering a domino effect on flights to and from Bali. The volcano's resurgence forced the airport operator, Angkasa Pura Indonesia, to cancel several international and domestic flights.
The volcano's eruption isn't just a natural spectacle; it's a traveler's nightmare. With ash clouds forming ominous skies, flight cancellations and delays became the norm. Airlines like Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Air India, Air New Zealand, Tigerair, and Juneyao Airlines suspended their operations. Domestic flights, particularly to Labuan Bajo and some to Semarang, were also hit hard by the ash fall.
Jetstar, in a statement on their website, informed travelers that some afternoon flights would be delayed due to ash clearance. The airline also confirmed cancellations to and from Bali. Meanwhile, AirAsia flights bound for Labuan Bajo were scratched from the schedule as well.
Interestingly, despite the wave of cancellations, the aviation hub at Bali continued to operate. However, the air traffic varied based on routes and airlines. A customer service agent at the airport confirmed the normality of the situation.
Ash rained down on villages surrounding Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, forcing the evacuation of at least one village. Tremors continued, indicating ongoing volcanic activity, according to Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. The geology agency advised people to maintain a seven-kilometer distance from the volcano's crater. They also issued a warning about the potential hazards of lahar floods if heavy rain occurred.
Thankfully, there were no reports of damages or casualties as of June 18, 2025. In November 2024, the volcano had erupted multiple times, causing the death of nine people, canceling scores of international flights, and forcing thousands to evacuate.
Indonesia, known for its frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," appears to be experience yet another bout of nature's wrath. Here's hoping the volcano finds a cooler, less disruptive way to express itself soon.
- The volcanic activity in environmental science has implications for the lifestyle of travelers, as seen in the recent eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which caused flight disruptions and cancellations.
- General news outlets have reported car-accidents as a secondary effect of the volcano's eruption, as people try to evacuate potentially affected areas, such as villages around the volcano.
- Climate-change and its impact on volcanic activity is a topic of interest in scientific research, with some theories suggesting that global warming may lead to increased volcanic activity and its associated hazards.
- As the situation at Bali's airport stabilizes, there is a call for the travel industry to consider environmental-science factors like volcanic activity when planning operations, in order to minimize disruptions and ensure safe travel for passengers.
