Lion Air Cancels 12 Flights Due To Mount Raung Eruption

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Lion Air Airlines has cancelled 12 of its flights in response to concerns that volcanic ash ejected from Mount Raung eruption in East Java Province may put serious hazard to aviation safety.

"The eruption have affected airports in Denpasar and Lombok. Therefore, for air safety reasons, since Thursday (July 9) from 05:00 pm local time, Lion Air has cancelled flights from and to Denpasar and Lombok," Director of Lion Group Edward Sirait said here on a release, Friday.

The cancelled flights were those serving Surabaya-Denpasar-Surabaya, Cengkareng - Denpasar -Cengkareng, Yogyakarta - Denpasar - Yogyakarta, Surabaya - Lombok - Surabaya, Cengkareng - Lombok - Cengkareng, Yogyakarta- Lombok - Yogyakarta.

Meanwhile, passengers whose flight have been postpone will be given rescheduled flights on the next day and hotel accomodation.

The airline will also fully refund tickets of those who want to cancel the flights, Sirait said.

The authority of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport of Bali has been temporarily closed the airport since Thursday (July 9) at 09:27 p.m. local time (GMT+8) until 06:30 a.m, extended until 09:30 am on Friday.

Meanwhile, the airport of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, was closed from Thursday night until 04:30 a.m. local time.

Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation has issued NOTAM or Note to Airmen for the closing of five airports to anticipate the hazard from Mount Raung volcanic ash.

The five airports were I Gusti Ngurah Rai of Bali, Lombok International Airport, Selaparang Airport of Lombok, Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi and Notohadinegoro Airport of Jember.

In accordance to the NOTAM, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport will not be opened until 06:30 am Eastern Indonesian Time (GMT+8), Lombok International Airport until 05:30 a.m. (GMT+8), Selaparang Airport of Lombok until 09:00 a.m. (GMT+8), Blimbing Sari airport of Banyuwangi until 12:00 p.m (GMT+7) and Notohadinegoro Airport of Jember until 08:00 a.m (GMT+7).

Meanwhile,  Co-General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I of I gusti Ngurah Rai Airport I Gusti Ngurah Ardita said that some domestic and international flights have been cancelled as the volcanic ash from Mount Raung eruption disrupt routes linking Denpasar to some domestic destination and several cities in Australia.

"For safety reason, some airplanes could not fly to Bali," Ardita said.

Mount Raung is one of the active volcanoes in Java Island. It is 3,332 meters above sea level and is located at the border of Jember, Bondowoso, and Banyuwangi districts.

It has a 2-kilometer wide caldera surrounded by a grayish rim. The difference in color of the rim and the flanks of the volcano is caused by the rim's lack of vegetation as compared to the healthy and extensive vegetation on the flanks.

The PVMBG increased the status of Mount Raung from Waspada (alert level II) to Siaga (alert level III) on Monday (June 29).

The volcano erupted on Sunday (July 5), spewing a plume of smoke 400 meter high to southeast, incandescent cinder and lava flows. (WDY)