Virgin and Jetstar cancel Bali flights due to Volcanic eruptions

[dzinh]

Was suppose to fly JQ MEL - DPS 3 weeks ago when all the action began to unfold and had to cancel two days before the trip.

Decided to use my voucher and rebook DPS for next Sat as a bday surprise but it seems like the damn volcano doesn't want us to visit DPS.

Flying back on Monday so hope things will be smooth. From what I could see XT flew everyday since the ash cloud began so that might be the ultimate backup option of getting back.

I do like JQ44's departure time though - getting back into MEL before midnight unlike the XT departure time of 00:40.

 

[PLANT]

If you fly Xt pm me to get my details.... Need them in your will.....I think thr chances are higher than tatts ticket win you may not make it!

 

[ChrisDPom]

They flew every day that DPS was open, not every day of the ash cloud.

Remember that Tiger are taking over some of the Virgin Oz - DPS flights next year as well.

I flew them from SIN to DPS on 6/11 (the day after DPS re-opened).

The pilot was Australian and the flight just a normal low cost airline flight but with happy and pleasant staff which you don't always get with the others.

So Plant, they are not as bad as they have been made out and I was happy to take them instead of my cancelled Jetstar flight.

Chris

 

[dzinh]

They flew every day that DPS was open, not every day of the ash cloud.

Remember that Tiger are taking over some of the Virgin Oz - DPS flights next year as well.

I flew them from SIN to DPS on 6/11 (the day after DPS re-opened).

The pilot was Australian and the flight just a normal low cost airline flight but with happy and pleasant staff which you don't always get with the others.

So Plant, they are not as bad as they have been made out and I was happy to take them instead of my cancelled Jetstar flight.

Chris

O've flown with Tiger before so they're not bad. In all cases I assume there will be flights into Asia (Sin/kul) so will reroute there if need be and then fly back to MEL.

Need to be back in MEL on Wed so the ultimate will be rerouting unless I can get on a XT, GA flight.

I'm still holding out to book accommodation so will leave it until Wed- Thursday to see how things play out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Another wave of Bali flights cancelled: Australian flights to Bali cancelled due to another ash cloud

From the departures board shown in that article it looks like the ash was only affecting Australian airlines last night - KL, EK, SQ, GA all flying as normal. Not sure if that has changed this morning.

 

[Captain hum]

Another wave of Bali flights cancelled: Australian flights to Bali cancelled due to another ash cloud

From the departures board shown in that article it looks like the ash was only affecting Australian airlines last night - KL, EK, SQ, GA all flying as normal. Not sure if that has changed this morning.

After last year's debacle , we never fly with Virgin or Jetstar to DPS any more. We had a canceled dive holiday thanks to Virgin , when all the other non Australian airline were flying as normal. Finally flew out a week laster with GA. Going over in November with SQ.

 

[N860CR]

After last year's debacle , we never fly with Virgin or Jetstar to DPS any more. We had a canceled dive holiday thanks to Virgin , when all the other non Australian airline were flying as normal. Finally flew out a week laster with GA. Going over in November with SQ.

I don't doubt that the situation wasn't handled well by VA and JQ, however the airlines don't just cancel flights for the fun of it. If they're not flying, it means it's not safe. Cancelled flights = expensive, so it's not done if it can be avoided.

Garuda and Air Asia Indonesia may have continued flying... that doesn't make it safe.

 

[Quickstatus]

GA I think gets special air route which avoids the plume. VAQFJQ don't. Not sure where I saw it will see if I can find a source

Also GA can divert to any suitable airport in the archipelago wit minimal cost.

 

[ChrisDPom]

Everyone had cancelled flights last night (a minor burp from Mt Rinjani on Lombok).

While the ash cloud's lower level was undetermined, we saw plenty of turn backs and diversions in Bali.

Once it was confirmed how long the ash cloud drift would take to pass over south Bali (was WSW direction on the wind), it was business as usual.

The local airlines have Surabaya as back up. The Aussie airlines don't and have Darwin instead. Guess which costs a heck of a lot more for diverts?

Also, local airlines have more access to restricted airspace to fly around any potential ash cloud plume. Again, this can be authorised for other airlines but takes time (and cost).

You pay for what you get.

 

[Captain hum]

I don't doubt that the situation wasn't handled well by VA and JQ, however the airlines don't just cancel flights for the fun of it. If they're not flying, it means it's not safe. Cancelled flights = expensive, so it's not done if it can be avoided.

Garuda and Air Asia Indonesia may have continued flying... that doesn't make it safe.

SQ, EK, KL and all were all flying. VA just have no contingency to divert. It was now't to do with GA or Air Asia being 'unsafe'

 

[ChrisDPom]

SQ, EK, KL and all were all flying. VA just have no contingency to divert. It was now't to do with GA or Air Asia being 'unsafe'

They do have contingency planning but it's costs less to ground planes than put people up in Darwin. :-|:-|:-|

 

[ChrisDPom]

And Rinjani has just erupted again, so expect more problems today as the new (2nd) ash cloud heads our way.

No notification that the 2nd eruption has ended yet.

 

[Pushka]

Plenty of planes here now.

 

[Melburnian1]

TT8 is delayed from 0645 hours ex Melbourne on Thursday 6 October to an estimated 0230 hours on Friday 7. Perhaps it is unrelated to volcanic activity?