Is it safe to fly to Bali? Flights cancelled and delayed after Indonesian volcano erupts again

Flights to and from Bali have been disrupted after Indonesia’s rumbling Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted twice on Monday.

The explosions sent a column of grey smoke up to 18 kilometres into the sky, dumping ash on nearby villages.

No casualties were immediately reported. The volcano on Flores island has been at the highest alert level since an eruption on 18 June, when air traffic was also plunged into chaos.

Indonesia’s Geology Agency recorded an avalanche of searing gas clouds mixed with rocks and lava travelling up to 5 kilometres down the slopes of the mountain.

The initial column of hot clouds was the volcano's highest since the major eruption in November 2024 that killed nine people and injured dozens, said Muhammad Wafid, the Geology Agency chief.

“An eruption of that size certainly carries a higher potential for danger, including its impact on aviation,” Wafid told The Associated Press. “We shall reevaluate to enlarge its danger zone that must be cleared of villagers and tourist activities.”

Indonesia eruption leads to flight cancellations

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki led to a number of cancellations and delays on Monday and into Tuesday.

Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, a spokesperson for Bali's Ngurah Rai international airport, said the airport was running normally, as monitoring showed the volcanic ash had not affected Bali's airspace.

But by Monday afternoon, at least 24 flights between Bali and Australia, Singapore and South Korea were cancelled and many others delayed, while flights on four domestic routes were cancelled.

Flights operated by Jetstar, Qantas, Indonesia AirAsia and Virgin Australia are among those disrupted.

"Some Virgin Australia Bali services have been cancelled following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi earlier today," a Virgin Australia spokesperson told news outlet ABC on Monday.

"The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority and our team of expert meteorologists are closely monitoring the situation and ash cloud activity.

"We regret the impact of this on guests' travel plans and encourage guests travelling to or from Bali to closely monitor their flight status via the Virgin Australia website or app."

Qantas also told the ABC: “Safety is always our top priority, and we will contact customers directly if their flight is disrupted."

Jetstar also said it will contact customers directly if there are any changes to their schedule.

Two airports in the cities of Maumere and Larantuka in East Nusa Tenggara province remained closed on Tuesday, according to Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson.

Is it safe to travel to Bali?

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not updated its travel advice for Indonesia with specific warnings relating to the recent volcanic eruption.

However, it does advise against all travel to a number of volcanoes in the country:

• Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province to within 7km of the crater

• Mount Sinabung, Karo Regency, North Sumatra to within 5km of the crater

• Mount Marapi, West Sumatra to within 3km of the crater

• Mount Semeru, Lumajang Regency, East Java to within 5km of the crater and in the south-east of Mount Semura to within 500m from any riverbank of the Besuk Kobokan river for 13km from the crater

• Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi to within 7km of the crater

• Mount Ibu, North Maluku Province to within 7km of the crater

If I cancel my trip to Bali, am I entitled to compensation?

Travellers can expect refunds or alternative travel arrangements if their flights or accommodation are cancelled by airlines, providers or tour companies.

Most airlines will rebook you on their next available flight to your destination at no extra charge, and some will reimburse you for accommodation, meals and phone call costs while waiting for the flight.

However, without an official ‘no-go’ warning from foreign governments, travellers who choose to cancel their trip to Bali are unlikely to receive reimbursement or compensation, as this is considered “disinclination to travel”.

Some travel insurance policies include trip disruption or natural disaster cover, but not every company will offer this, so make sure you have the correct insurance before you leave.

Why is volcanic ash dangerous for planes?

Volcanic ash clouds pose a risk to planes because they can cause severe damage to aircraft engines and affect flight controls.

When ash enters a plane engine, the glass inside it melts, which then sticks to various other engine parts. Sensors can fail, and the ash can block the thousands of tiny holes that direct air through the turbine blades to keep the engine cool.

Flying through an ash cloud is also a bit like sandblasting the outside of the plane and can reduce visibility for pilots by damaging the glass in the cockpit.

Why is Indonesia an eruption hotspot?

There are around 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. The archipelago sits between the most seismically active region of the world, the Pacific Ring of Fire, and the Alpide Belt, an area where there are a large number of eruptions and earthquakes.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki last erupted in May and also in March. Indonesia's volcanology agency says it has erupted a total of 427 times this year.

Though people who live close to the volcano have learned to live with it, seismic activity can still be very dangerous. An eruption last November killed nine people and injured dozens more.