Air India cancels multiple flights after volcanic ash alert from Ethiopia; Akasa, IndiGo also hit | Check list

Air India on Monday cancelled more than a dozen international and domestic flights after initiating precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown over regions impacted by ash clouds from the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.

In an advisory posted on X, the airline said the cancellations were necessitated as part of “precautionary checks on those aircraft which had flown over certain geographical locations after the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption”.

“Our ground teams across the network are keeping passengers updated on their flight status and are providing immediate assistance, including hotel accommodation. We are making every effort to arrange alternative travel at the earliest,” Air India said, adding that safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority.

Here’s the list of flights cancelled by Air India:

• AI 106 (Newark–Delhi),
• AI 102 (New York–Delhi),
• AI 2204 (Dubai–Hyderabad),
• AI 2290 (Doha–Mumbai),
• AI 2212 (Dubai–Chennai),
• AI 2250 (Dammam–Mumbai),
• AI 2284 (Doha–Delhi)

• AI 2822 (Chennai–Mumbai),
• AI 2466 (Hyderabad–Delhi),
• AI 2444/2445 (Mumbai–Hyderabad–Mumbai),
• AI 2471/2472 (Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai)

The cancellations came on a day when aviation regulator DGCA issued a detailed advisory to airlines and airports, warning of possible disruptions due to ash plumes drifting from the volcanic activity in Ethiopia.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation instructed airlines to strictly avoid volcanic ash-affected areas and flight levels, adjust routing and fuel planning based on real-time advisories, and immediately report any suspected ash encounters, including engine anomalies or cabin odour.

Airports have also been asked to conduct urgent inspections of runways, taxiways and aprons if volcanic ash is detected, and to restrict operations until cleaning is completed.

Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM also cancelled several flights on Monday due to the ash cloud.

Akasa Air said its flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25 were cancelled, adding that its teams were monitoring the situation as per international safety protocols.

IndiGo said it is tracking the situation “in coordination with international aviation bodies”, reassuring passengers that safety remains its highest priority.

Ash clouds from the Hayli Gubbi eruption are drifting across parts of western and northern India but are expected to move away by 7.30 pm on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Forecast models indicated ash influence over Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

The shield volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday, generating an ash plume that rose to around 14 km (45,000 ft) and spread across the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula and parts of the Indian subcontinent, the IMD noted.

“High-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India,” it said.