Planning a Bali escape these school holidays? You might want to double-check your flight — a dramatic volcanic eruption on Indonesia’s Flores Island has sent travel plans up in smoke (well, ash actually).

Mt Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted around 1 pm AEST on Monday, launching a massive ash plume 18,000 metres into the sky and causing quite a stir at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. A total of 24 flights were cancelled, including services from Aussie favourites Virgin Australia and Jetstar.

Travel Uncertainty Amid Bali Volcanic Eruption

Virgin cancelled three flights on Monday and delayed two more on Tuesday morning departures from Brisbane and Melbourne. Jetstar also grounded a few flights, while Qantas had a couple of minor delays. The airlines are keeping a close eye on the ash cloud, and passengers are being rebooked as soon as it’s safe to take off again.

“Our team of expert meteorologists is closely monitoring conditions,” Virgin said, encouraging travellers to keep tabs on their flight status via the airline’s website or app. “Safety comes first — thanks for your patience while we work through the disruption.”

A Problem Volcano

The volcano — yes, its name does translate to “Mount Man” — has been making a bit of a fuss lately. According to Indonesia’s geological agency, it’s still rumbling away, and nearby communities have been urged to stay at least six kilometres from the crater and wear masks to avoid breathing in ash. No injuries have been reported, but locals are on alert in case of rain-triggered volcanic mudflows.

This isn’t Mt Lewotobi’s first headline this year — it’s already disrupted travel once before, and last November, it forced thousands to evacuate and led to multiple fatalities.

If you're one of the many Aussies dreaming of a beachside cocktail in Seminyak, don’t panic. Flights are expected to resume as conditions improve, and the airlines are doing their best to keep holiday vibes intact. Just keep an eye on your flight status and maybe pack a little extra patience (and your sense of humour) in your suitcase...

Hero image credit: Reuters

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