A CHANGE in wind direction has cleared the air of volcanic ash around Bali and its surrounding region, facilitating resumption of operations at two airports since yesterday afternoon.
Ngurah Rai International Airport resumed operations at 14.30 yesterday following a revised Note to Airmen from the aviation authority, while Blimbingsari Airport of Banyuwangi in East Java was cleared to reopen this morning.
Two airports in Lombok, however, remain closed until tomorrow at 07.45.
Trikora Harjo, Bali airport general manager, had told Antara News Agency that the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics and Australia’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre have reported that winds had moved southwards, carrying ashes from Mount Rinjani’s eruption away from the island.
Garuda Indonesia moved quickly last night to announce resumption of its flights from Denpasar to Jakarta, Melbourne, Osaka and Seoul as well as from Jakarta to Denpasar.
AirAsia’s flights between Denpasar and Jakarta, Surabaya, and Kuala Lumpur were also back on schedule.
Meanwhile, the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali Chapter has estimated a loss of some 5.3 trillion rupiah (US$396 million) by the Bali tourism industry as a result of the airport closures since last Tuesday.
I Ketut Ardana, chairman of ASITA Bali Chapter, said: “That is based on the total number of seats on the cancelled flights and the average spending of tourists on the island.”
Aviation authority and operators remain cautious and will continue to monitor Mount Rinjani’s volcanic activities.
