New Delhi: The Haile Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupted for the first time in about 12,000 years, causing many flights to be diverted due to thick smoke.
Indian airlines and airports have been advised to deal with possible disruptions due to ash from the eruption of a volcano in Ethiopia. The ash clouds are moving eastwards and are expected to reach northern India late on Monday evening.
The Haile Gubbi volcano has erupted for the first time in about 12,000 years. Airlines that have cancelled some flights due to the volcanic ash problem include AirAsia, IndiGo and KLM.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to strictly avoid ash-affected areas and adjust flight plans, routes and fuel considerations.
The volcanic ash has flown into the Red Sea. As a result, many countries on the Red Sea coast, including Oman and Yemen, are covered in ash and smoke. This ash will also reach Delhi. Volcanic ash and dust will reach Delhi by tomorrow. This is likely to cause many changes in Delhi air travel.
If volcanic ash affects airport operations, the concerned operators should immediately inspect runways, taxiways and aprons, the DGCA said.
Operators have been instructed to continuously monitor the situation and be alerted through satellite imagery and weather data. Akasa Air said that flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25, 2025, have been canceled due to ash and smoke.