To the discontent of many international travelers and tourists stuck on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, more flights were canceled Saturday due to deteriorating flying conditions as well as an aggravating risk of volcanic ash spreading from the Mount Agung volcano which has been rumbling for two weeks now.
Australian budget airline Jetstar explained: “Bali flying conditions expected to be clear throughout the day, but the forecast for tonight has deteriorated so several flights have been canceled.”
<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2 Dec update on Mount <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Agung?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Agung</a> volcano in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bali?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bali</a> - Jetstar executive David Lau explains that tonight and tomorrow’s daylight flights Bali flights have been cancelled. Details in travel alert: <a href="https://t.co/ipKqIRVLSf">https://t.co/ipKqIRVLSf</a> <a href="https://t.co/OaY19Xq8vI">pic.twitter.com/OaY19Xq8vI</a></p>— Jetstar Airways (@JetstarAirways) <a href="https://twitter.com/JetstarAirways/status/936900774210109440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The volcano has already wreaked havoc over the travel plans of many tourists this week, with thousands from Australia and China stranded for days on end, till the winds changed on Wednesday and flights resumed.
But as from Friday, the trouble started again, with several Asian airlines stating that all evening flights would be canceled due to poor visibility.
Volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines, clog fuel and cooling systems, hamper pilot visibility and even causing engine failure.
For passengers that have been stranded at the airport for many days, frustration is starting to grow. An Australian couple, Justine and Greg Hill have been at the airport for three days now with their two teenagers.
“It’s more an inconvenience than anything. Don’t understand why if other airlines are flying, some others aren‘t. Obviously, there must be safety protocols but there’s no detailed explanation,” 46-year-old Mr Hill commented.
Several countries who have stranded passengers in Bali have set-up diplomatic helping posts at the airport, such as India. Their vice-consul to Indonesia, Mr Subrata Sarkar, stated: ”We have advised citizens the volcano may erupt. We never say ‘please don’t come’. But we have issued travel advisories. If it’s urgent business, then ok, but if it’s only tourism, then plans should be reconsidered.”
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