Emirates resumes limited service to Bali amid volcano disruption

Denpasar airport reopened on Wednesday afternoon after three days of flight cancellations

Mount Agung volcano is seen spewing smoke and ash in Bali, Indonesia. Emilio Kuzma-Floyd / via Reuters

Mount Agung volcano erupts as seen from Besakih Temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia. Johannes P. Christo / Reuters

A woman uses an umbrella as she walks through ash from Mount Agung volcano during an eruptiuon in Bebandem Village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on November 26, 2017. Antara Foto / Fikri Yusuf / via Reuters

A farmer ploughs his field as Mount Agung erupts in the background in Culik Village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia. Antara Foto / Nyoman Budhiana / via Reuters

Tourists watch the eruption of Mount Agung at a restaurant on Jemeluk Beach, Amed, Karangasem, Bali. Antara Foto / Nyoman Budhiana / via Reuters

Passengers wait for their flight scheduled at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali. Wira Surya / EPA

Balinese Hindus walk after praying as Mount Agung volcano erupts at Besakih Temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia. Johannes P. Christo / Reuters

A motorist rides his motorbike during a shower of ash and rain from Mount Agung volcano during an eruption in Bebandem Village, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia. Antara Foto / Fikri Yusuf / via Reuters

Villagers carry their belongings during an evacuation following the eruption of Mount Agung, seen in the background, in Karangasem, Indonesia. Firdia Lisnawati / AP Photo

Emirates has resumed some flights to Bali after the Indonesian island’s airport reopened on Wednesday despite ongoing ash eruptions from Mount Agung.

Earlier in the week activity from the volcano in the northeast of the island intensified, forcing closure of the airport and grounding tens of thousands of passengers as flights from around the world were cancelled.

Emirates said in a statement to The National on Thursday that it had instigated a "limited resumption of flights to and from Bali/Denpasar [airport]" after having cancelled all its services to and from Bali indefinitely from Monday.

The temporary schedule on Thursday comprises flight EK360 departing from Dubai at 01.30 Dubai time, and flight EK361 departing from Bali at 16.30 Bali time.

"These dates and times are provisional and subject to the operational status of Bali/Denpasar International Airport,” the statement said. Flight EK399 remains cancelled.

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“Emirates passengers bound for Bali/Denpasar via Dubai, including those currently in Dubai International Airport, will be given the option to travel to a destination near to Bali/Denpasar, [such as] an Indian Ocean or other Far East destination in the Emirates network. Alternatively, they can return to their original point of departure if they so choose,” the Dubai carrier said.

It applies to Emirates passengers who have booked tickets to Bali/Denpasar (DPS) with departure dates up to December 4. The airline urged passengers to check their website for their latest flight timings.

Thick ash started spouting from Bali’s Mount Agung on Saturday, spreading east and forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents living in the island’s northeast area, as well as holidaymakers.

Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation raised its aviation alert notice to ‘red’ on Monday, the highest level, warning that a larger eruption is possible.

However, Ngurah Rai Airport – also known as Denpasar and Indonesia’s third-busiest international airport – reopened from 3pm on Wednesday after three days of disruption.

Indonesian officials have said that although the airport has reopened, it remains necessary to constantly monitor the situation.