MORE than 4300 Australians stranded in Bali after a volcanic ash cloud threw their plans into disarray are expected to fly home today.
Denpasar Airport reopened on Wednesday after the cloud from the Mount Agung eruption cleared, allowing major airlines to resume flights.
Qantas and Jetstar will operate 10 scheduled services and an extra eight relief flights on Friday, arriving in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Cairns.
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READ NOW“Volcanic activity and ash cloud are unpredictable and flights may be cancelled at short notice,” a Jetstar spokeswoman said in a statement on Thursday evening.
There will be three Virgin Australia flights from Bali on Friday, but none of the airlines are taking passengers to the popular holiday spot due to the risk of further volcanic activity and disruptions.
The first of the flights back to Australia arrived in Perth on Thursday afternoon and subsequent services landed in Melbourne and Sydney in the evening.
Many endured an uncomfortable end to their holidays, with WA man Phil Wickham describing “cold, wet” nights spent sleeping at the airport.
“It also gets really hot and steamy,” he said.
“It’s not pleasant.”