AirAsia will continue to operate limited flights to and from Bali on Saturday following the reopening of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Wednesday.

In a statement today, the low-cost carrier said all flights to Lombok however remain temporarily cancelled due to the eruption of Mount Agung until further notice.

The airline had cancelled all flights in Bali and Lombok on November 26, 2017.

It added passengers on the affected flights between November 25 until December 10, 2017 will be entitled to choose from several available recovery options being offered by the airline.

This includes changing to a new travel date on the same route within 30 calendar days from the original flight date without additional cost.

Passengers are also allowed to retain the value of fare in their AirAsia BIG Loyalty account for future travel which is to be redeemed within 90 calendar days of the date of issue for a travel date of their choice.

Passengers can also opt to obtain a full refund in the amount equivalent to their booking which can be done strictly via the e-form available on support.airasia.com.

Volcanic ash has blanketed villages in the vicinity of Mount Agung
Mount Agung volcano erupts as seen from Besakih Temple in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia on November 26, 2017. - REUTERS/Johannes P. Christo

For passengers on flights between December 11 to 31, 2017, a new travel date on the same route up to January 31, 2018 will be offered without additional cost.

They also have the option of rerouting to another destination within the AirAsia network with fare difference applicable.

Passengers on these travel dates also have the option of retaining their credit account for future travel use with AirAsia.

All passengers are strongly advised to check airasia.com and AirAsia’s social media pages for further announcements.

The ash cloud from the erupting Mount Agung in Bali grounded planes across the island last week, leaving thousands of tourists stranded.

The volcano alert on Bali was also raised to the maximum levels and officials have extended a state of emergency on the island after the volcano began erupting.

Latest estimates from Indonesia’s Volcanic and Geological Disaster Management Agency said the ash cloud is rising about 2,000 meters above Agung’s crater, with the plumes drifting southeast, east and northeast.

On Thursday the ash cloud moved over Lombok, heaping yet more misery onto stranded tourists.

Lombok’s international airport was forced to close due to dangerous levels of ash but reopened on Friday after ash levels fell.

Significant tremors around Mount Agung are continuing and the time between them is decreasing while their strength is increasing, according to the Indonesian seismic reports.

It added a major escalation of the eruption is expected at any time.

The country’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre also warned in a statement issued on Saturday that a more violent eruption remains likely with the crater of Mount Agung’s one-third filled with magma.