Volcanic ash from Hayli Gubbi (Ethiopia) forces Air India to cancel 11+ flights and Akasa to suspend Gulf routes (Jeddah, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi). DGCA issues advisory as plume drifts over Delhi-NCR
Ethiopia Volcano Ash Emergency
The Indian aviation sector faced widespread operational upheaval this week after a massive volcanic ash plume, originating from the highly explosive Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia, drifted into key flight corridors connecting India with the Middle East and Europe. The unforeseen atmospheric event, stemming from a volcano erupting for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, led to the issuance of stern advisories by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and triggered substantial flight cancellations by major domestic carriers, including Air India and Akasa Air.
The immediate and most visible impact was the precautionary suspension of services by two prominent Indian airlines. Akasa Air confirmed the complete cancellation of its international flights connecting India to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi for both November 24 and 25. The airline stated that the ash cloud created “unsafe flying conditions” across these routes, necessitating the suspension to ensure passenger safety, which remains the utmost priority for the carrier. Impacted passengers were offered the option of complimentary rebooking or a full monetary refund.
