Dubai: Emirates has cancelled its flights EK356/EK357 and EK358/EK359 from Dubai to Jakarta and back on November 6 due to a cloud of volcanic ash from the Merapi volcano in Indonesia, a spokesperson of the airline confirmed to Gulf News . All affected passengers from these flights were offered hotel accommodation in Dubai. The spokesperson said Emirates is monitoring the situation closely and will provide further updates when available.
Emirates advised all passengers due to travel to Indonesia in the next day to check flight status prior to departure. The airlines said it is regretting any inconvenience caused as the safety of its passengers and crew “is always of paramount importance.”
Altogether, 36 flights to and from Jakarta’s main international airport were cancelled Saturday because of the volcanic eruption from Mount Merapi.
“36 flights to and from Jakarta from 11 airlines have been cancelled today. I think it’s for safety reason due to the volcanic ash from Merapi,” spokesman Sudaryanto of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport said. “Safety is good, but actually the ash hasn’t reached Jakarta.”
Other airlines that cancelled their flights are Singapore Airlines, AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, JAL, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, China Airlines, Korean Air, Tiger Air and the local airline Mandala.
— With inputs from AFP
