Hayli Gubbi volcano: Know which Akasa, IndiGo and KLM flights have been cancelled
Several international and domestic flights were cancelled on Monday as Indian airlines and airports were issued an urgent advisory to avoid routes affected by the massive ash plume from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano eruption.
The volcanic ash cloud, drifting eastward across the Arabian Sea, is expected to impact northern India, including Delhi, within hours.
Akasa Air, IndiGo, and KLM were among the first carriers to cancel operations, mainly on West Asia routes, citing safety concerns. Akasa Air announced the cancellation of its flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25 due to significant ash concentration along their flight paths.
Several IndiGo flights were also rescheduled or withdrawn, with the airline saying it was closely monitoring the drifting plume. KLM has suspended select services that cross the affected region.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed airlines to immediately reroute or cancel flights passing through ash-affected airspace and to revise fuel planning and flight paths in line with meteorological advisories. \
Pilots have also been asked to report any suspected ash encounters, including engine anomalies, smoke or unusual odour in the cabin.
The ash cloud—originating from the Hayli Gubbi volcano’s first eruption in nearly 12,000 years—has travelled over the Red Sea and northern Arabian Sea and has begun entering parts of Rajasthan and Haryana.
Denser segments are forecast to move over Delhi soon, potentially worsening air quality, though experts say ash fall on the ground is unlikely.
If ash affects airport operations, DGCA has instructed operators to conduct immediate inspections of runways, taxiways, and aprons. Airports and airlines have been told to continuously monitor satellite and weather data for updated ash movement.
The eruption in Ethiopia’s Afar region left nearby villages coated in dust, with moderate tremors reported around Erta Ale and Afdera.