Indian airlines Air India and Akasa Air have announced flight cancellations. This follows massive ash plumes from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which have disrupted regional air operations. The volcano erupted on Sunday, spewing ash up to 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) into the atmosphere. It is the first recorded eruption in history.
Air India confirmed it had cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday. These cancellations were to perform precautionary safety inspections on aircraft that may have flown near the affected airspace. The airline’s decision followed a directive issued by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The directive instructed all carriers to assess potential exposure and perform thorough technical checks.
Meanwhile, Akasa Air also cancelled flights to Middle Eastern destinations, including Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi. This was due to the same safety concerns.
Indian airlines Air India and Akasa Air announced flight cancellations following disruptions caused by ash plumes from a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia https://t.co/IC5eOQWane pic.twitter.com/JSnSghKEQz
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 25, 2025Cancelled services included flights to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi. The airline made these decisions to ensure passenger and crew safety. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed only a few flights required rerouting. The government treated this as a precautionary measure.
The India Meteorological Department provided an update on the movement of the ash cloud. The plume is currently moving towards China. Officials expect the ash to clear Indian airspace by 1400 GMT on Tuesday. This forecast allows airlines to plan for a return to normal operations.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on Sunday for the first time in recorded history. It sent ash plumes as high as 14 kilometres into the atmosphere. According to flight tracking data, the ash cloud had covered parts of Pakistan and northern India by Tuesday.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano eruption marks Ethiopia’s first such event in recorded geological history. Scientists are monitoring the site for further activity. Meanwhile, regional air safety authorities coordinate with international meteorological and aviation networks to track the ash plume’s movement. With the skies expected to clear soon, airlines plan to resume full operations. This will occur once regulators confirm air safety across affected routes.
