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The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in 12,000 years and the volcanic ash is likely to enter western and northern parts of India on Tuesday.
The volcano, which rises about 500 m in altitude within the Rift Valley, started to erupt on Sunday.
It is situated at an intense geological activity zone where two tectonic plates meet.
According to according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), the eruption has now stopped but an ash cloud might make its way towards India and Pakistan.
In India, it is projected to enter Gujarat and move towards Rajasthan, northwest Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab by 10 pm on Tuesday. Later, it is also likely to impact the Himalayas and other regions.
According to IMD forecast, ash will fly over Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday,
The ash cloud is moving at altitudes ranging from 15,000–25,000 feet and up to 45,000 feet. It contains volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide, and fine particles of glass and rock.
The eruption of the volcano has already impacted flights in India with airlines including IndiGo and Akasa Air suspending operations on affected corridors.
KLM is also among the airlines that cancelled some flights due to the ash plume issue on Monday.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also instructed all Indian operators to revise their flight plans, adjust fuel loads, and avoid any airspace or altitudes affected by the volcanic ash cloud.
In its advisory, the regulator directed airlines to ensure that flight crews and aircraft engineers follow all established safety protocols when operating in or near volcanic ash.
Depending on the contamination, the operations may be restricted, and cleaning procedures have to be completed before resuming movements, it added.
According to sources, due to the ash cloud, seven international flights (arrivals and departures) scheduled between 01:00 hrs and 18:00 hrs on November 25 have been cancelled.
Additionally, twelve international flights (arrivals and departures) have also been reported as delayed.
Akasa Air
In a statement, Akasa Air said that it had cancelled flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.
"Following recent volcanic activity in Ethiopia and the resulting ash plume in the surrounding airspace, our flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for 24th and 25th November 2025 have been cancelled," Akasa Air said.
In an X post it said, "#TravelUpdate We are closely monitoring the volcanic activity in Ethiopia and its potential impact on flight operations in nearby regions. Our teams will continue to assess the situation in compliance with international aviation advisories and safety protocols and take necessary actions as required. At Akasa Air, passenger safety and well-being is our utmost priority."
Air India
Air India in a post on X said, "#TravelAdvisory Following the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, ash clouds have been observed over certain geographical regions. We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with our operating crew. There is no major impact on Air India flights at this time. We will take all necessary steps under our precautionary plans to ensure the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft, which remains our top priority."
It said that they have been cancelled flights as they are carrying out precautionary checks on aircrafts which had flown over certain geographical locations after the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption.
In another post it said, "We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen situation beyond our control. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority. "
It also mentioned a list of 11 flights which were cancelled for November 24 and 25.
November 24
AI 106 – Newark–Delhi
AI 102 – New York (JFK)–Delhi
AI 2204 – Dubai–Hyderabad
AI 2290 – Doha–Mumbai
AI 2212 – Dubai–Chennai
AI 2250 – Dammam–Mumbai
AI 2284 – Doha–Delhi
November 25
AI 2822 – Chennai–Mumbai
AI 2466 – Hyderabad–Delhi
AI 2444 / 2445 – Mumbai–Hyderabad–Mumbai
AI 2471 / 2472 – Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai
SpiceJet
SpiceJet said that their flight operations and safety teams are closely coordinating with aviation authorities and continuously monitoring the ash cloud's movement.
"#TravelAdvisory: Due to a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, volcanic ash activity has been reported across parts of the Arabian Peninsula. This may impact flight operations for aircraft flying through these regions. As safety remains our top priority, our Flight Operations and Safety teams are closely coordinating with aviation authorities and continuously monitoring ash cloud movement," it said on X.
IndiGo
The IndiGo airlines said that their teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies and are fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations.
In a post on X, it said, "Following the recent eruption of the #HayliGubbi volcano in #Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India. We understand that such news may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that your safety remains our highest priority."
"Our teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies. We are fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations. Our 6E teams are available across all touchpoints to support you with any assistance you may need. We will continue to monitor the developments round the clock and keep you informed of any updates to help minimise inconvenience (if any). Thank you for your patience and understanding. Stay safe, and travel with confidence," it further added.
Following are other flights which were delayed after the volcano eruption in Ethiopia:
1 - Lufthansa LH 760 Frankfurt
2 - IndiGo 6E 1082 Phuket
3 - Air Astana KC 963 Almaty
4 - Delta Airlines DL 957 Amsterdam
5 - Air India AI 148 Paris
6 - Air India AI 174 San Francisco
7 - Cathay Pacific CX 679 Hong Kong
8 - Indigo 6E 1464 Dubai
9 - Air India AI 238 Dhaka
10 - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KLM 2368 Paris
11 - Air India AI 212 Kathmandu
12 - Cathay Pacific CX 695 Hong Kong
13 - Air India AI 112 London Heathrow
14 - Air India AI 2361 Manila
15 - Virgin Atlantic VS 302 London Heathrow
16 - Air India AI 2363 Singapore
17 - Thai Airways TG 331 Bangkok
18 - Qatar Airways QR 578 Doha
19 - Air India AI 2030 Frankfurt
20 - IndiGo 6E 064 Jeddah
21- IndiGo 6E 1804 Baku
22 - SpiceJet SG 012 Dubai
(With PTI inputs)