Due to the spread of a volcanic ash plume from Ethiopia that damaged important flight corridors between India and the Gulf, Akasa Air has canceled its flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi on November 24 and 25.
According to the airline, operations were suspended as a precaution due to dangerous flight circumstances caused by the volcanic activity.
"Our flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25, 2025, have been cancelled due to recent volcanic activity in Ethiopia and the resulting ash plume in the surrounding airspace," an Akasa Air representative stated.
The airline gave customers the choice of either a complete refund or a free rebooking on a different route within the following seven days.
According to Akasa Air, its operational teams were working with international aviation advisory and safety authorities to evaluate the changing circumstances. "Passenger safety and well being are our utmost priority at Akasa Air," the airline stated in a statement.
Ash was thrown up to 45,000 feet into the atmosphere during Ethiopia's Hauli Gubbi volcano's first eruption in more than 10,000 years. The ash cloud affected high altitude flight routes that connect India and the Middle East as it traveled northeast at rates of 100 to 120 kmph.
Disruptions also affected other carriers. To guarantee passenger safety, IndiGo claimed to be working with aviation authorities. When the ash cloud entered Indian airspace, the aircraft from Kannur to Abu Dhabi (6E1433) was rerouted to Ahmedabad. As a precaution, KLM and a number of other foreign airlines also canceled flights.
In an advisory, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) urged airports and airlines to stay vigilant and keep an eye on current weather and volcanic information.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the ash plume, which was about 10 km above the earth, was unlikely to impair Delhi's or the surrounding cities air quality, and its effects would be temporary as it continued to move eastward.
Air travel in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, and Punjab was disrupted by the volcanic event as authorities and airlines modified their operations to adapt to the changing conditions.
