Denpasar, Bali (Antara Bali) -- Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport has been shut down once again, due to which hundreds of flights will be canceled, Airport Director of the Ministry of Transportation Agus Susanto said.
Airport operations have been halted because volcanic ashes spewed by Mount Raung following its eruption are blowing towards Bali Island.
"Volcanic ashes are scattered everywhere. As a result, all planes flying to Denpasar will have to go through the ash clouds, and it is feared that the ashes will enter the engines of aircraft," Susanto told the press at the Airport Crisis Center here on Wednesday.
The decision on the closure of the airport was made after they received a recommendation from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Council in Darwin, Australia.
Following this, the regulator and the local airport operator decided to close the airport from 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday to 6:00 a.m. local time (GMT+8) on Thursday, July 23.
Moreover, PT Angkasa Pura Ngurah Rai Airport could not confirm the number of flights that will be canceled as they are still being recorded by related parties.
However, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Ngurah Rai Airport Trikora Harjo stated that the schedule of the canceled flights is likely to be the same as the cancellations made when the airport was shut down the first time.
"We are still counting the number of flights that will be canceled. But it will not be much different from the cancellations made before," he remarked.
When the airport was shut down the last time, at least 277 flights operating along domestic and international routes were canceled and more than 30,000 passengers had failed to depart due to the eruption of Mount Raung.
The airport, which was closed on several occasions since July 9, became fully operational on Sunday, July 12, at around 10:30 a.m. local time (GMT+8).
The Transportation Ministry issued a "Notice to Airmen" (Notam) numbered A1493/15 to all flight personnel. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015
Airport operations have been halted because volcanic ashes spewed by Mount Raung following its eruption are blowing towards Bali Island.
"Volcanic ashes are scattered everywhere. As a result, all planes flying to Denpasar will have to go through the ash clouds, and it is feared that the ashes will enter the engines of aircraft," Susanto told the press at the Airport Crisis Center here on Wednesday.
The decision on the closure of the airport was made after they received a recommendation from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Council in Darwin, Australia.
Following this, the regulator and the local airport operator decided to close the airport from 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday to 6:00 a.m. local time (GMT+8) on Thursday, July 23.
Moreover, PT Angkasa Pura Ngurah Rai Airport could not confirm the number of flights that will be canceled as they are still being recorded by related parties.
However, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Ngurah Rai Airport Trikora Harjo stated that the schedule of the canceled flights is likely to be the same as the cancellations made when the airport was shut down the first time.
"We are still counting the number of flights that will be canceled. But it will not be much different from the cancellations made before," he remarked.
When the airport was shut down the last time, at least 277 flights operating along domestic and international routes were canceled and more than 30,000 passengers had failed to depart due to the eruption of Mount Raung.
The airport, which was closed on several occasions since July 9, became fully operational on Sunday, July 12, at around 10:30 a.m. local time (GMT+8).
The Transportation Ministry issued a "Notice to Airmen" (Notam) numbered A1493/15 to all flight personnel. (WDY)
Editor : I Made Andi Purnomo
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015