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Canada News.Net
an hour ago
- Canada News.Net
Indonesian volcano spews ash, triggers widespread flight cancellations
LEMBATA, Indonesia: Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted dramatically on June 18, generating substantial ash and smoke plumes. The eruption resulted in the evacuation of nearby villages and the cancellation of numerous flights, including those to the popular resort island of Bali. The series of eruptions, which began on the evening of June 17 and continued into the next day, propelled ash to altitudes of 5,000 meters (approximately 16,400 feet). One of the eruptions produced thick, gray clouds that reached heights of 10,000 meters (around 32,800 feet), creating a mushroom-shaped ash formation visible up to 150 kilometers (nearly 93 miles) away. In response to the escalating volcanic activity, the alert level was raised to the highest designation, and the danger zone recommending evacuation was extended to an area of up to eight kilometers (about five miles) from the crater. Officials also relocated personnel from the Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki monitoring station, which is situated seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the crater, due to the threat posed by falling debris. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties as a result of the eruptions. Despite the danger zone being carefully defined, ash and debris were detected over a wider area, affecting villages such as Boru, Hewa, and Watobuku. Residents from Nurabelen village in Ile Bura subdistrict sought refuge in evacuation centers, with reports indicating some evacuated to Nileknoheng village, located 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) from the volcano's crater. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, stated that the safety of residents remains a priority. The impact of the eruptions extended to air travel, with dozens of flights grounded on June 18, affecting connections between Bali and cities in Australia, Malaysia, India, and China, as listed on the Bali I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport's website. Volcanic ash poses a significant risk to aircraft, compelling airlines to cancel flights to maintain passenger safety. This affected thousands of travelers, particularly those relying on Australian carrier Jetstar, which indicated that the ash cloud was expected to dissipate midweek, allowing rescheduling of some services. Air New Zealand also canceled a return flight to Auckland and offered passengers rebooking options for the subsequent available flights. Additionally, flights to New Delhi, Singapore, and Pudong, China, were suspended in light of the ongoing volcanic activity, as indicated on Denpasar airport's website. Mount Lewotobi Laki, standing at 1,584 meters (5,197 feet), is part of a twin volcano system alongside Mount Lewotobi Perempuan in Flores Timur district. The volcano has exhibited heightened activity over recent months, with previous eruptions claiming lives and necessitating safety measures. Situated within the "Ring of Fire," Indonesia is home to 120 active volcanoes, making it a region prone to frequent seismic events that affect its population of 270 million.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Jetstar takes advantage of huge Thailand boom
Thailand has always been a popular destination among Aussies – but since the release of the latest White Lotus series, travel to the destination has particularly boomed. Not long after the first episode of the new season dropped in February, Expedia searches for Koh Samui, where the film is set, spiked 70 per cent. 'This year, two-thirds of travellers say movies, streaming services and TV shows have influenced their travel choices, with a 16 per cent increase year-on-year [and] this trend shows no signs of slowing in 2025,' Expedia travel expert, Sarah King said. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), during the first four months this year, Australian arrivals grew by 16 per cent year-on-year to 273,961. Jetstar has also seen a boom in passengers visiting the destination and is now expanding its services to Thailand, adding more than 100,000 new low-fare seats between the two destinations. In 2024 alone, more than 400,000 passengers visited the Southeast Asian destination. 'We're reshaping our international network to focus on high-demand destinations, adding an additional 130,000 seats across Thailand, South Korea and Japan each year, and allowing Australians to take off more, for less,' Jetstar executive manager commercial planning, Lyle Brownscombe said. From October 2025, Jetstar will introduce two additional return flights per week between Brisbane – Bangkok, bringing the total to five weekly services within a year of launch. It will also add a weekly return flight between Melbourne and Bangkok, and two extra services between Sydney and Phuket during the peak Christmas holiday travel period. Fares will start from $299 – for example from Sydney to Phuket, one-way and $309 from Melbourne to Bangkok, one-way. The boost to Thailand flights comes as Jetstar this week became the largest carrier between Australia and South Korea, adding three more weekly flights between Sydney and Seoul. The airline now operates 10 return services per week to the South Korean capital city from Sydney and Brisbane. 'Our growth into Asia is backed by a significant investment in our fleet, including next-generation aircraft and upgrades to our Dreamliners, allowing us to fly further and more efficiently with more comfort for passengers,' Ms Brownscombe said. In celebration of its expansion, the airline is having a sale. Meanwhile, Jetstar airline will retire its Australia–Hawaii service, with the final Sydney–Honolulu flight departing October 24, 2025. Qantas will subsequently operate services from Melbourne and Sydney to Honolulu. The move has allowed Jetstar to redeploy its Boeing 787 Dreamliners to high-demand routes across Asia.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Flight and cabin crews mull new course as Jetstar Asia closure diverts career paths
Jetstar pilot captain Yohan Janeau (left) and Jetstar customer service manager Vicky Wee, have been retrenched and are trying to find new jobs. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Flight and cabin crews mull new course as Jetstar Asia closure diverts career paths SINGAPORE – Ms Vicky Wee, a flight attendant, has spent most of her working life in the sky. She started flying in her early twenties, fulfilling a childhood dream. Now 65, she has racked up 42 years of experience in a role she describes as 'a passion for flying'. The in-flight customer service manager told The Straits Times that her favourite part is 'meeting all sorts of people, interacting with them'. She joined Jetstar Asia 13 years ago, after more than 28 years with Singapore Airlines (SIA). Asked how she felt about Jetstar Asia's looming closure, Ms Wee paused, visibly emotional. 'It's very sad. I still can't get over it,' she said. The Singapore-based low-cost carrier announced on June 11 that it would cease operations – more than 20 years since its maiden flight in December 2004. It will continue to operate flights out of Singapore with a reduced schedule until its final day of operations on July 31. Over 500 Singapore-based employees will be laid off when the airline closes. This includes over 100 pilots and nearly 300 cabin crew. Ms Wee is determined to remain in the airline business. 'I still have a passion for flying,' she said, though she is unsure if her age will affect her job prospects. She has applied to be a part-time cabin crew at Scoot, SIA's low-cost arm, after visiting a job fair held for retrenched employees at Jetstar Asia's office at Changi Airport Terminal 1. 'I'm still fit, so why not?' she quipped. More than 300 employees visited the job fair, held from June 17 to 19. Ms Vicky Wee has racked up 42 years of experience in a role she describes as 'a passion for flying'. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Nearly 40 employers from a mix of industries, from aviation and aerospace to public transport and hospitality, had come together in an effort to match Jetstar Asia staff with new jobs. The job fair was organised by the National Trades Union Congress's (NTUC) Aerospace and Aviation cluster, NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute, the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union, CAAS and Jetstar Asia. NTUC said the fair featured more than 450 roles, including positions for pilots, cabin crew, customer service, engineering, and safety and quality assurance. Ms Cindy Yap, Jetstar Asia's head of people, thanked colleagues across the aviation industry and beyond for their support. 'We've been overwhelmed by the response from employers wanting to come along to this week's job fair and speak to our people,' Ms Yap said. 'I thought I'd finish my career here': Captain Captain Yohan Janeau, 38, was enjoying breakfast with family on June 11 when he found out about Jetstar Asia's closure. 'Honestly, I couldn't believe it,' the Frenchman told ST. 'I knew we weren't profitable. But to the point of closing the airline ... it came as a shock.' His first thought was for his family. After moving countries four times in five years, Capt Janeau was looking forward to some stability for his wife and children, aged eight and five. 'Beyond the impact on employees, their families are also very impacted... the children, the wives, everyone.' He did not have much time that day to process the shock with his family. About two hours after he received the news about the airline's closure, he received a call. A captain rostered to operate a turnaround flight to Phuket that day had decided that he was not fit to fly, being too emotional after hearing the news. Capt Janeau stepped up to take over the flight. When he landed at Terminal 4 later that day, he was met with 'sadness and tears' from other employees, who had gathered to support each other. 'It's not easy,' said the pilot, who first joined Jetstar Asia in 2013 and was promoted to captain in 2017. He got married in Singapore, where his first child was also born. Captain Yohan Janeau, 38, was enjoying breakfast with his wife and two children on June 11 when he found out about Jetstar Asia's closure. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI He left the airline in 2018, to care for his sick mother, but rejoined in August 2024 after stints in other airlines and even the French air force. His family had been excited to return. 'Singapore is where I thought my life would be for the next 20 years... We consider this our home,' Capt Janeau said. 'I really thought that this would be my last move, and that I would finish my career here,' he added. He has applied for positions at SIA and Scoot, in the hope that his family can remain in Singapore, where his wife, also French, has found a job as a marketing and communications manager, and his children enjoy their school. 'I was very happy to see that the SIA Group stepped in (to offer jobs to pilots and cabin crew). Hopefully, it applies to foreigners like me,' he said. The SIA Group said on June 13 that it would create positions for retrenched Jetstar Asia employees across its airlines, including 100 jobs for pilots and 200 for cabin crew. A spokesperson for the company said its aim is to support as many affected staff as possible in continuing their careers in the aviation sector. Ms Wee, the flight attendant, said that while the overall mood among her colleagues has been sombre, they remain committed to their jobs and the airline until the inevitable end. 'I say, brace for it and move forward... Do your best, whatever comes.' Vanessa Paige Chelvan is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes about all things transport and pens the occasional commentary. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Flights to Indonesia's Bali resume after disruption by volcano eruption
All flights to and from the Indonesian resort island of Bali resumed on Thursday after being cancelled or delayed due to eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, officials said. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Tuesday, spewing ash 11 kilometres high. Eighty-seven flights to and from Bali, consisting of 66 international and 21 domestic flights, were affected on Wednesday by the eruption, the Bali airport operator said in a statement. These included connections to Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia. On Thursday, flights from Bali departed on schedule to Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and China, Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, an official at Bali airport, said in a statement. These flights were operated by airlines including Malaysia Airlines, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines, Mr Asmadi added. "Until now, all the operations have been running smoothly, both departures and arrivals," Mr Asmadi said. Flights operated by Qantas and its low-cost carrier Jetstar were scheduled to operate as normal on Thursday, the company said. A number of flights operated by AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia Indonesia to and from Bali, Lombok and Labuan Bajo, which were cancelled since Wednesday, have also resumed, the airline said. Two airports in East Nusa Tenggara province reopened on Thursday after being temporarily closed on Wednesday. However, authorities extended the closure of Fransiskus Xaverius Seda airport in Maumere until Friday as there was still some volcanic ash in the air posing a risk to flights, the airport's operator said in a post on social media. Dozens of residents living in three villages nearest to the volcano have been evacuated, the local disaster mitigation agency said. According to Indonesia's volcanology agency, Lewotobi has erupted 427 times this year. Tuesday's eruption is the largest since November last year when it erupted several times, and killed at least nine people. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates.
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki: Airlines update travellers after dramatic volcanic eruption disrupts flights
Major Australian airlines have provided updates on their services after one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes erupted on Tuesday. Bali's airport has been reopened after dozens of flights to and from Bali were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted at 5.35pm local time, spewing ash cloud 10km into the sky. No casualties have been reported but volcanic ash can damage and disable aircraft engines and affect airspace. Airlines have issued an update to services but travellers have been warned to expect further disruptions. Jetstar cancelled four flights between Perth and Denpasar on Wednesday morning. The airline said flights would resume on Thursday evening between the two. 'At this stage, conditions are expected to remain clear on Thursday, and our flights are planned to operate,' Jetstar said in a statement. 'We continue to recommend customers check their flight status on before coming to the airport. 'Safety is always our number one priority, and we thank our customers who were impacted by Wednesday's disruptions for their patience and understanding.' Virgin cancelled flights from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast to Denpasar. Today's Bali services are unimpacted, a Virgin spokesperson said. The airline said it was working with Denpasar airport to schedule additional services on Thursday, June 19. Qantas had two flights departing from Sydney and Melbourne to Denpasar that were delayed for one to two hours. It is understood the airline's Bali flights are scheduled to operate as normal on Thursday.
