If a volcano disrupts your flights

If volcanic ash cancels your flight, contact your airline first, then your agency, hotel and driver, and keep every message. The airline decides the rebooking, while airport authorities decide when flights resume. Treat any early reopening as uncertain, because ash direction and eruption strength can change.

This page sits in our season, activity and traveller-fit hub. Read it before you travel, not at the airport.

What does a volcanic disruption look like?

In 2017, Bali’s airport closed from early Monday to Wednesday afternoon during the Agung eruption, and tens of thousands of travellers were stranded. Some left by road and ferry via Surabaya ^[1]. Ash also shut Lombok’s small international airport, and plumes reached about 25,000 feet ^[2].

A change in ash direction or a stronger eruption could have closed Bali’s airport again ^[2]. Past events show how fast things can shift, not what will happen next time.

Who do you contact first, and what do you ask?

Work through this list in order:

1. The airline. Ask for the rebooking options in writing, and ask whether a refund or credit is available.
2. The agency, if you booked a package. Ask them to move the hotel, driver and transfers to match the new flight.
3. The hotel. Ask whether you can extend your stay and at what rate.
4. Your driver. Ask them to hold the pickup and confirm the new arrival time.
5. Your insurer. Ask whether volcanic ash disruption is included, and what receipts they need.

Keep screenshots of every notice and a note of the date and time of each call. Our travel insurance checklist explains what to check before you buy.

How do you check whether a volcano is active?

Indonesia’s volcano alert scale has four levels: Normal, Waspada, Siaga and Awas ^[3]. The Geological Agency’s PVMBG monitors volcanoes around the clock and runs the MAGMA Indonesia app with near-real-time hazard information ^[4].

The alert level tells you about the volcano. Flight decisions come from the airline and airport authorities. Check both, and check them again on the day you fly.

What can no one promise?

Be ready for these limits:

• No one can promise an exact reopening time, because ash can shift.
• No one can promise a seat on the next flight, because every affected passenger rebooks at once.
• Hotel, meal and transport costs depend on the airline’s terms and your insurance.
• Refund and credit options differ between airlines and between events.

Ask each party what they will cover, in writing. If anything is unclear, ask again before you pay for a new ticket.

What if you have a volcano excursion planned?

Hiking a volcano adds another layer of risk, because trails can close when activity rises. Our guide on what to check before adding a volcano excursion lists the questions to ask the operator.

What if your trip also includes island boats?

Ash events and rough seas can stack up on island routes. Our ferry and fast-boat cancellations guide shows how to keep a buffer day, and the Indonesia nature guide helps you pair volcano views with a flexible plan.