Two SriLankan Airlines flights scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka from Sydney and Melbourne tonight are being rerouted due to volcanic activity in Indonesia, according to reports.
Several flights operated by Middle Eastern airlines travelling between Australia and Indonesia have also been diverted as a result of the situation.
The Anak Krakatau volcano, located between Indonesia’s Java and Sumatra islands, became active today (06), prompting Indonesian authorities to suspend flights at several airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The volcanic activity has caused ash and rock particles containing silica to spread across a large area of the upper atmosphere, posing a potential risk of damage to aircraft engines and control systems.
In response, Indonesian aviation authorities have issued a notice restricting aircraft from flying through a large section of airspace west of the volcano, including airspace south of Sri Lanka.
The restrictions have led airlines operating routes between Australia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to make changes to their flight paths as a precautionary measure.
