Dhaka: Airlines in West Asia and India have cancelled and redirected flights after a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia sent ash clouds into high-altitude air routes on Monday (Nov 24), authorities said.

The ash plumes reportedly reached parts of India, including Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory instructing airlines to avoid affected regions and altitudes, follow volcanic ash procedures, adjust routing based on updated advisories, and report any suspected ash encounters.

Airlines were also advised to suspend operations until the airspace is cleared.

Several carriers, including Akasa Air, IndiGo, KLM and SpiceJet, have cancelled flights on routes crossing the affected corridor.

Air India halted flight AI 358 from Delhi to Tokyo just before takeoff, citing ash clouds over certain regions. KLM cancelled its Amsterdam-Delhi service (KL 871) and the return flight (KL 872).

Airlines emphasized passenger safety as a priority, monitoring the ash clouds in coordination with aviation authorities.

Airports, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, have advised passengers to check flight status before travel.

The eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano on Sunday (Nov 23) — its first in nearly 10,000 years — sent ash across the Red Sea toward Oman and Yemen, before reaching India.

-B