Ngurah Rai International Airport reopens

The Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, has been reopened in accordance with Notice to Airmen (Notam) No. A2527/15 issued on Monday (November 9) at 5:45 a.m. local time.

"According to Notam Number A2527/15, WADD/Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar-Bali, has been reopened and has become operational from Monday at 5:45 a.m. local time. The airport was previously closed as it was affected by the volcanic ash being spewed by Mount Barujari," Ministry of Transportations spokesman, J.A. Barata, stated here, Monday.

The Ngurah Rai International Airport was earlier closed due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Barujari, a cone inside Mount Rinjanis large volcanic caldera located in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

The Ngurah Rai Airport has been closed since Monday (November 3) but was reopened momentarily on Thursday (November 6) as the volcanic activity had declined.

Barata affirmed that the conditions until now are still unpredictable. However, the people have been urged to maintain a positive outlook as the airports closure or reopening is aimed at ensuring passenger safety during flights.

The closure was based on last weeks evaluation of Mount Barujari, Rinjani, eruption conducted by the Crisis Management Center of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport at 9:30 p.m. local time (November 8).

The decision on the closure was based on information received from the Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and Darwin-based Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) of Australia that volcanic ash had drifted to the west or over Bali Island, particularly the airports area.

Based on these conditions, the Ministry of Transportation had formerly issued a Notam Number A 2479/15 regarding the closure.

Three airports --- the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Selaparang in Lombok, and Banyuwangi--- were closed due to the eruption.

On Wednesday, some 692 international and domestic flights were cancelled following the closure of the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The cancellations have affected 183 arrivals and 189 departures of domestic flights.

A total of 157 scheduled arrivals and 163 departures of international flights have been cancelled.

ANTARA