Two Air New Zealand flights have been cancelled due to volcanic ash from Indonesia's Mount Lewtobi Laki Laki.
The volcano in south-central Indonesia erupted Wednesday, spewing towering columns of hot ash into the air.
Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level and expanded the danger zone to 8km from the crater, the Associated Press reported.
Indonesia's Geology Agency said in a statement it recorded the volcano unleashing 10,000m of thick grey clouds following significant volcanic activities, including 50 in two hours, rather than the usual daily 8 to 10 activities.
As a result of volcanic ash forecast to affect the airspace, flight NZ290 from Auckland to Bali and the return service NZ291 from Bali to Auckland were both cancelled.
Air New Zealand chief operating officer Alex Marren told 1News the airline was "closely monitoring the situation" and the safety of customers and crew was a top priority.
"We will be rebooking impacted customers on the next available service to get them to their destination safely. We recommend customers keep an eye on the Air NZ app or website for the latest information on their flight," they said.
An eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in November killed nine people and injured dozens. It also erupted in May.
- Additional reporting by the Associated Press
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