Flight operations in India were disrupted on Monday and Tuesday after volcanic ash from Ethiopia entered Indian airspace, prompting precautionary cancellations by major airlines.

Both Air India and Akasa Air confirmed they halted select services due to safety concerns. According to Reuters, Air India grounded 11 flights over the two days to carry out checks on aircraft that had flown through affected routes.

Akasa Air also cancelled several of its Middle East routes, including scheduled flights to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, after the advisory was issued.

The action came after India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), directed airlines to avoid areas impacted by volcanic ash and modify flight paths, fuel planning, and altitude levels. The DGCA also instructed airlines to report any suspected ash-related issues, such as unusual engine behaviour or cabin smell.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) assured that the ash plume is moving out of Indian skies. According to the agency, the cloud is drifting toward China and is expected to clear Indian airspace completely by around 7:30 pm on Tuesday.

Impact Across Regions

The volcanic ash originated from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi shield volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region. The volcano, which had reportedly been dormant for more than 10,000 years, erupted on Sunday, sending an ash plume nearly 14 kilometres (around 45,000 feet) into the atmosphere.

Since the eruption, the ash has travelled across several regions including Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, and northern parts of India.

Forecast models from IMD showed possible impact over Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana, with experts cautioning that pollution levels in these areas may temporarily worsen.

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