Good news for travelers! Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia have restarted their flights between Australia and Bali after earlier cancellations caused by a pesky ash cloud from recent volcanic eruptions.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara has been quite active lately. Since a big eruption just over a week ago that tragically took nine lives and sent ash miles into the sky, there have been several eruptions. But it looks like things are calming down enough for flights to get back on track.
This Thursday, there are nine flights scheduled between Australia and Bali. Jetstar is running six return flights, including four regular services and two extra recovery flights to help catch up with the backlog. Qantas has three flights lined up, with two of them being delayed flights from Wednesday.
A spokesperson from Qantas Group shared that their teams worked overnight to keep a close eye on the situation and decide when it was safe to fly again. “Conditions this morning have improved, allowing us to resume operations between Australia and Denpasar on both Jetstar and Qantas,” they said. They’re also planning to add more recovery flights using different aircraft to help passengers get to their destinations as quickly as possible. They understand the frustration and appreciate everyone’s patience, advising travelers to check their flight status on Jetstar.com and Qantas.com before heading to the airport.
Virgin Australia has also jumped back into action, confirming that all their flights to and from Denpasar are up and running. “Safety is always our highest priority,” Virgin Australia stated on their website. They’ve been closely monitoring the situation and are now handling any rebookings needed for passengers affected by the cancellations. They apologize for any inconvenience and assure everyone that their team is working hard to get everyone to where they need to go safely and promptly.
For those still affected by cancellations, Smartraveller recommends reaching out to your airline or insurance provider to make alternative arrangements.
So, if you were stuck because of the ash cloud, it’s time to breathe a little easier and check those flight statuses. Bali awaits!
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