Volcanic Ashes Prevalent at Height of 16.000 Feet: Airport Operator

Sidoarjo, East Java (Antara Bali) -- Volcanic ashes from Mount Raung are moving at a height of 16,000 feet, posing dangers to flights, according to PT Angkasa Pura I, the operator of Surabaya's Juanda Airport.

"From ground level, it appears as though there is no volcanic activity. This is because the movement of the volcanic dust is occurring at a height of 16,000 feet," the company's general manager, Yanus Suprayogi, said here on Thursday evening.

Due to the ashes, Juanda Airport in Surabaya, which is the country's second largest city, and Abdulrachman Saleh Airport in Malang, East Java, terminated the operation of flights till 6 a.m. on Friday.

"After 6 a.m. on Friday, the volcanic dust is expected to be blown away. However, in case the situation remains the same, the cancelation of airport activities may be extended," he noted.

According to Suprayogi, the dust clouds can be gotten rid of only by rainfall. "However, with the current hot weather, it is very unlikely to rain."
Moreover, he pointed out that the company will not provide compensation because the situation was a result of natural causes, not technical issues.

"But we have provided buses to transport passengers who wish to continue their journey by land," he affirmed.

Due to the closure of the airport, 222 flights of 16 airlines to and from Surabaya have been canceled. Consequently, 9,766 passengers failed to depart from Juanda Airport, while 18,178 passengers could not arrive at the airport. (WDY)