Airlines flying to Aceh in Indonesia have been requested to avoid certain domestic flight routes over the erupting Mount Sinabung.
Mount Merapi, an active volcano in the Yogyakarta province, also erupted on November 18.
The Jakarta Post reported that manager of Kuala Namu International Airport in Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, has called for the temporary closure of W11, W12, L774 and R456 as these routes have been disrupted by drifting ash. Alternative routes to Aceh that avoid Mount Sinabung are being used.
All other operations are continuing normally at the airport. The airport’s operational manager Ali Sofyan is quoted in the Jakarta Post as saying: “Flights in and out of Kuala Namu airport are still operating normally. We will halt flight operations if the safety risk is increased to the red level.”
Airlines are not reporting cancellations or delays at this stage but travellers are urged to avoid the volcanic areas and check their flight statuses.
eTNW will continue to update this story.
