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Indonesian volcanic ash cloud halts flights in and out of Darwin Indonesian volcanic ash cloud may halt Australia flights for days
(about 3 hours later)
Qantas and Virgin Australia have confirmed all their flights to and from the Northern Territory capital of Darwin have been cancelled as a massive volcanic ash cloud sweeps from Indonesia towards the Australian mainland. Flights across northern Australia could be affected for days after a volcanic eruption in Indonesia sent a vast ash cloud over the region.
Flights around Australia may be disrupted by the cloud, which began spreading when Sangeang, a volcano off the north-east coast of the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, erupted on Friday evening. Qantas and Virgin Australia have confirmed all their flights to and from the Northern Territory capital of Darwin have been cancelled after Sangeang Api, a volcano off the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, erupted at least three times since Friday.
Deputy prime minister Warren Truss said the ash cloud was between 6km and 13km in the atmosphere and and could affect flights as far south as Brisbane.
"Depending on wind and other weather conditions, the ash has the potential to affect flights to and from other airports, including Brisbane, during coming days. This is currently being fully assessed," he said.
Airservices Australia, the nation's air navigation authority, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Bureau of Meteorology are all investigating the cloud, Mr Truss said.
"Depending on wind and other weather conditions, the ash has the potential to affect flights to and from other airports, including Brisbane, during coming days. This is currently being fully assessed," he said.
"Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for further information."
Airservices Australia has begun diverting international flights around the ash cloud.
Virgin Australia spokeswoman Jacqui Abbott said all Virgin flights to Darwin on Saturday had been cancelled.Virgin Australia spokeswoman Jacqui Abbott said all Virgin flights to Darwin on Saturday had been cancelled.
"Because of the impact of the volcano, we have cancelled all flights today on our schedule to and from Darwin," she said."Because of the impact of the volcano, we have cancelled all flights today on our schedule to and from Darwin," she said.
"Our meteorologists are monitoring the situation and are consulting with the [volcanic ash] advisory centre in Darwin and we will renew normal operations as the situation allows.""Our meteorologists are monitoring the situation and are consulting with the [volcanic ash] advisory centre in Darwin and we will renew normal operations as the situation allows."
Qantas Group spokeswoman Kira Reed said cancellations also affected all Qantas flights to and from Darwin on Saturday and Jetstar's Cairns-Darwin and Darwin-Cairns flights, its Darwin-Adelaide service and its Darwin-Bali, Bali-Darwin, Singapore-Darwin and Darwin-Singapore flights.Qantas Group spokeswoman Kira Reed said cancellations also affected all Qantas flights to and from Darwin on Saturday and Jetstar's Cairns-Darwin and Darwin-Cairns flights, its Darwin-Adelaide service and its Darwin-Bali, Bali-Darwin, Singapore-Darwin and Darwin-Singapore flights.
The Darwin International Airport website indicated all Saturday flights to and from Darwin had been cancelled.The Darwin International Airport website indicated all Saturday flights to and from Darwin had been cancelled.
The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre manager at the Bureau of Meteorology in Darwin, Emile Jansons, said the ash cloud was already affecting Australian air space.The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre manager at the Bureau of Meteorology in Darwin, Emile Jansons, said the ash cloud was already affecting Australian air space.
"It has currently reached the Australian coast,” he said. “It has reached the Kimberley coast [in Western Australia]."It has currently reached the Australian coast,” he said. “It has reached the Kimberley coast [in Western Australia].
"It is spreading east and it may dissipate, so it is not clear how far east it will get."It is spreading east and it may dissipate, so it is not clear how far east it will get.
"It is not yet clear if it will affect the eastern seaboard.""It is not yet clear if it will affect the eastern seaboard."
Mr Jansons said volcanic ash could be hazardous to aircraft but the decision whether or not to fly was a safety and economic decision that rested with individual airlines.Mr Jansons said volcanic ash could be hazardous to aircraft but the decision whether or not to fly was a safety and economic decision that rested with individual airlines.