The volcanic ash had forced the authorities to shut down the Ngurah Rai Airport, the Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi, East Java, the Selaparang Airport and the Lombok Praya Airport in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, during the past two days.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali resumed operations on Thursday afternoon after volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Barujari in the neighboring Lombok island forced authorities to close it for two days.
"The Ngurah Rai Airport has been reopened after it was declared normal to operate," Chief of the Public Communication Center at the Transportation Ministry, J.A. Barata said in a text message on Thursday.
The airport was reopened after an official notice was issued to airmen, he said.
The volcanic ash had forced the authorities to shut down the Ngurah Rai Airport, the Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi, East Java, the Selaparang Airport and the Lombok Praya Airport in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, during the past two days.
According to the Transportation Ministry, a total of 1,180 flights have been cancelled due to the volcanic ash. The cancelled flights include 171 on Tuesday, 498 on Wednesday, 23 on Thursday and 102 on Friday.
Just on Thursday, Garuda Indonesia cancelled 209 flights to and from the affected airports, including Citilink Indonesias 24 flights and Air Asias 67 flights.
The Indonesian Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the Darwin-based Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) of Australia have issued information that the direction of the wind has changed and has blown the volcanic ash away from Bali.
The decision to restart operations at the airport was also based on the fact that it was clear of any volcanic ash.
Earlier, the Bali airport authorities had closed down the airport on Tuesday and decided to extend its closure period until Friday morning.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
