Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) and a number of other airlines cancelled flights to and from Nadi on Friday, July 27, due to the safety threat posed by the volcanic ash cloud after the eruption of Mount Aoba in Vanuatu.

The Fijian flag carrier and its regional subsidiary Fiji Link (FJA, Nadi) have cancelled flights out of Nadi to each of Auckland International, Suva, and Tongatapu.

Other airlines which have cancelled services to and from Nadi include Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Aircalin.

Fiji Airways has also warned its passengers to expect further delays and possible cancellations due to the unpredictable situation.

Mount Aoba, more commonly known as Ambae, is a volcano located on an eponymous island which is essentially a giant volcanic peak. It erupts regularly every few months, threatening the lives of some 11,000 native inhabitants. The Ni-Vanuatu government is currently conducting a full evacuation of the island, the second in just 10 months. The country is considered to be one of the most disaster-prone in the world with frequent volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and cyclones.

The cloud of ash, spawn by the volcano starting July 26, moved eastwards towards the strip of Pacific Ocean separating Vanuatu and Fiji.