UPDATE: Flights to and from Bali are cancelled until at least Friday evening as the eruption of Mount Agung continues. The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation said a continuous emission had been observed at the volcano and was reaching a height of more than 23,000ft. The ash cloud is moving to the west south-west and there was increasing seismic activity, it said. Just before 7am on Friday Ngurah Rai international airport in Bali announced all flights would be suspended until at least 7pm. VONA put the colour code at orange — one below the top red level — meaning the volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with an increased likelihood of eruption or an eruption is under-way with no or minor ash emission. Camera Icon Passengers wait at Ngurah Rai international airport as airlines canceled flights. Credit: AP The timing is unfortunate as it comes as some Australian States enter the busy school holiday travel period. WATCH: Virgin Australia’s Bali volcano assessment video AirAsia, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia confirmed they had cancelled flights last night after ash from the volcano was blown close to Denpasar airport. AirAsia cancelled flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Perth, Jakarta, Surabaya and Manilla and postponed several others until further notice. The airline said affected guests would be notified of their status via email and SMS and it was offering a number of recovery options, including full refunds. They also included the ability to change a flight to a new travel date on the same route within 14 calendar days without additional costs (subject to seat availability) or retain the value of the fare for 90 days from the day of issue. Passengers were advised to check airasia.com and the airline’s social media channels for further details. A Virgin spokeswoman said the airline had cancelled a return flight to the holiday island and was expecting delays Friday. She said the airline would reassess the situation today but cancellations are almost certain. Jetstar said it had cancelled six flights to Bali on Thursday from Perth, Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne and Adelaide. Four return flights to Perth, Adelaide Sydney and Melbourne were also axed. Two flights on their way to Denpasar also returned to Australia and the Friday morning Singapore-Denpasar-Perth and Denpasar-Cairns flights were also cancelled. Qantas said a flight each from Sydney and Melbourne to Bali had turned back to Australia and two flights due to leave Bali Thursday night had been delayed. A spokeswoman said customers on the delayed flights were being given accommodation and the airline was watching developments. Camera Icon Tourists take photos of the Mount Agung volcano in 2017. Credit: AP “We are monitoring the advice from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and our team of senior pilots and meteorologists will make an assessment when flights can be resumed,” she said. “We will continue to provide customers with updates as the situation develops and contact them via email or SMS if their flight is affected. “While these disruptions are frustrating, we always put safety first.” Qantas customers were advised to check their flight status on Qantas.com Mt Agung caused widespread disruptions towards the end of 2017, throwing the travel plans of thousands of holidaymakers into chaos. More than 38,000 local residents have been evacuated to shelters and a 12km exclusive zone placed around the volcano, which is 70km from Kuta. An eruption in 1963 killed almost 2000 people and was of the explosive intensity as Mount St Helens in 1981 and Mount Pinatubo in 1991.<doc-sep>Three flights out of Perth to Bali and one returning have been cancelled tonight, as eruptions from Mount Agung again wreak havoc on travel schedules. The AirAsia flights out of Perth at 6.30pm and 8pm - QZ545 and QZ537 - bound for Denpasar were both cancelled mid-afternoon. A Jetstar flight - co-listed as JQ116 and QF275 - to Singapore via Denpasar was also cancelled. The AirAsia flight due to land at 7.30pm, QZ536, was the other Perth flight to be cancelled. Another two Jetstar planes to Denpasar from Perth and Sydney were turned back as 22 flights across the country were affected. Jetstar cancelled 10 flights to and from Bali, as Qantas also turned back to Melbourne and Sydney flights to the island, and cancelled two more. Virgin cancelled two flights between Denpasar and Sydney and said one due to depart the island in the morning would likely be delayed. Anyone flying into or out of Bali is urged to contact their airline to check if there might be delays or cancellations - with ash forecasts suggesting the disruptions could be ongoing. Camera Icon Smoke plumes from Mount Agung. Credit: Daniel Lizsicar The ash cloud out of Mount Agung was reported to stretch to a height of 2000m, with white steam projecting from the volcano and a red glow as the sun came down. The alert level was sitting on a three, with a 4km exclusion zone around the mountain and tremors being experienced at the site throughout the afternoon. AirAsia cancelled a string of flights in and out of Bali to a variety of destinations, including Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila and Surabaya. Camera Icon Passengers in Perth arrive at the airport to find their flights are cancelled. Credit: Simon Hydzik/7 News Perth It’s far from the first time Agung has interrupted travel plans for WA holiday-makers, with a November eruption last year causing chaos to flight schedules.<doc-sep>Mount Agung volcano erupts during the night, as seen from Datah village, Karangasem Regency in Bali, Indonesia on June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Johannes P. Christo JAKARTA (Reuters) - Several flights were canceled or rescheduled on Thursday when a volcano erupted on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, sending a column of ash and smoke at least 2 km into the air, officials said. Bali airport was operating normally, but some airlines said they had canceled flights to and from the island known for its beaches and temples. “The eruption of Mount Agung today has impacted several of our flights to and from Bali,” budget carrier AirAsia said in a statement, adding at least 27 flights had been canceled or rescheduled. Jetstar and Virgin Australia also canceled flights, according to media. Hundreds of passengers were expected to be affected. Mount Aging, an active volcano in northeastern Bali, has been puffing since late last year. In December, minor explosive eruptions closed the airport. Airlines avoid flying through volcanic ash as it can damage aircraft engines, clog fuel and cooling systems and hamper visibility.<doc-sep>
Scores of flights between Australia and Bali have been delayed, cancelled or turned back because of ash from the eruption of the island’s Mount Agung. At least twenty-two Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin and Air Asia flights have been affected between Thursday night and Friday morning. The airlines will continue to assess conditions on Friday and customers are encouraged to check websites. Mount Agung is known to be an active volcano in the island, with its last eruption occurring in November 2017 Air Asia has cancelled three flights between Perth and Bali, and Jetstar 10 to and from Australia. Another two Jetstar flights to Denpasar from Perth and Sydney were turned back. Qantas also turned back two Melbourne and Sydney flights to the island, and delayed two more from Denpasar. Virgin cancelled two flights between Sydney and Denpasar, and said one due to depart the island in the morning would likely be delayed. AirAsia flights QZ545 and QZ537, which were both bound for Denpasar at 6.30pm and 8pm on Thursday, were cancelled. Another AirAsia flight, QZ536, which was expected to land at 7.30pm, was also cancelled. The airline has also cancelled flights going in and out of Bali to several neighboring countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The airline also says that it will continue to update and notify its passengers of their flight delays and cancellations via email and SMS. Passengers are also encouraged to go to the Air Asia website and check their flight details. AirAsia flights from Perth to Bali are cancelled due to detected volcano activity Other travelers scheduled for a Bali trip are also urged to contact their own airlines to confirm their trips. This is not the first time flights to Bali have been cancelled due to detected volcano activity. Mount Agung, also known as Gunung Agung, is known to be an active volcano in the island and erupted twice in 2017. It is also a popular hiking destination for many tourists. The previous eruptions cancelled scores of flights, leaving tourists stranded on Bali while they waited for airlines to rearrange flights. However, locals were less fussed, with many Indonesian families choosing to remain in villages just miles from the smoking volcano.