The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has caused disruptions to international air travel, forcing the cancellation of several flights between Australia and Bali. Volcanic ash from the eruption reached an altitude of 8,000 meters, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki eruption happened on Thursday night (March 20) at 10:56 PM WITA, sending a massive ash cloud into the sky. In response, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) escalated the volcano’s alert status from Level III to Level IV (Awas), the highest warning level.
As a result, eight flights were canceled, including seven Jetstar flights on the Australia-Bali route and one AirAsia Berhad Malaysia flight traveling from Bali to Australia.
“Seven flights on the Australia-Bali route have been canceled,” said Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, after an Integrated Post-Air Transport Operation meeting for the Eid holiday on Friday (March 21, 2025).
Despite these disruptions, Syaugi assured that the cancellations were temporary. Authorities estimate that flight operations between Australia and Bali could resume by 3:00 PM WITA.
However, this remains subject to change, depending on the ongoing volcanic activity. “According to BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency), the forecast is until 3:00 PM, but nothing is final yet. We are continuously updating the situation, depending on wind direction—whether it carries the ash toward Bali or not,” he explained.
While operations at Ngurah Rai Airport remain normal, passengers are urged to stay updated on their flight schedules by contacting their respective airlines. The airport management is also working closely with other agencies to monitor developments regarding Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s activity.
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Meanwhile, the impact of the volcanic eruption has also extended to Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai. An AirAsia flight on the Denpasar-Labuan Bajo route was delayed on Friday morning at 8:00 AM WITA due to ash clouds.
“This morning, AirAsia’s Denpasar flight was delayed because of the eruption. So far, only one AirAsia flight has been affected,” said Marwa, spokesperson for Komodo International Airport, on Friday (March 21, 2025).
The escalation of the volcano’s alert status was confirmed by Avi Manggota Hallan, Head of Emergency and Logistics at the East Flores Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). “Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s alert level was raised from Level III to Level IV at 10:30 PM WITA on Thursday (March 20, 2025),” he stated.
As authorities continue to assess the situation, travelers are advised to remain vigilant and stay informed through official updates.
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