Ethiopian volcanic ash reaches India; Air India cancels multiple flights
What's the story
The eruption of Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano has caused flight disruptions in India, with ash clouds spreading toward western and northern regions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre at Toulouse have issued a warning on the ensuing hazardous conditions. In light of this development, Air India has announced a list of canceled flights due to "precautionary checks" for the dates of November 24 and 25.
Air India
List of canceled Air India flights
Air India announced a list of canceled flights for November 24. These included AI 106 - Newark-Delhi, AI 102 - New York (JFK)-Delhi, AI 2204 - Dubai-Hyderabad, AI 2290 - Doha-Mumbai, AI 2212 - Dubai-Chennai, AI 2250 - Dammam-Mumbai, and AI 2284 - Doha-Delhi The flights canceled for November 25 were AI 2822 - Chennai-Mumbai, AI 2466 - Hyderabad-Delhi, AI 2444/2445 - Mumbai-Hyderabad-Mumbai, and AI 2471/2472 - Mumbai-Kolkata-Mumbai.
Eruption impact
Other airlines and airports on high alert
Airports are advised to inspect runways and suspend operations if ash is detected. Several flights have already been affected by the ash plume, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' Amsterdam-Delhi service and Air India's Delhi-Tokyo flight. IndiGo's Kannur-Abu Dhabi flight was diverted on Monday to Ahmedabad due to the volcanic ash.
Safety measures
Airlines issue travel advisories, prioritize passenger safety
Indian airlines have issued advisories for passengers traveling through the Middle East. SpiceJet asked passengers to monitor flight status closely, while Akasa Air emphasized passenger safety as its "utmost priority." IndiGo said it is fully prepared with precautions and will provide timely updates. Air India posted, "Our ground teams across the network are keeping passengers updated on their flight status and are providing immediate assistance, including hotel accommodation."
Eruption effects
Volcanic eruption's impact on Indian aviation
The Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 10,000 years, sending an ash plume across the Red Sea toward Oman and Yemen. Authorities are closely monitoring its movement toward northern India, including Delhi and Jaipur. Despite expected reduction in intensity over land and sea, flight disruptions are likely to continue overnight as airlines navigate around the affected corridor.
Travel advisory
Travelers advised to check flight status frequently
Officials warn that even limited ash exposure can damage aircraft engines, leading to detours, delays, and cancellations. Passengers are advised to check flight status frequently and follow airline updates. Travelers flying through affected regions should regularly check their flights' status, expect potential delays or detours, and follow airline and airport instructions closely. Authorities will continue providing updates as the situation develops, with airlines and aviation regulators on high alert for passenger safety.