KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu Airport has cancelled 13 flights and retimed 10 flights due to the volcanic ash eruption in Indonesia.
Kota Kinabalu Airport manager Jefry Ramli said as of 9.45am, three flights from Tawau and another three from Kuala Lumpur bound for Kota Kinabalu were cancelled.
Mount Ruang, a stratovolcano in North Sulawesi Province, first erupted at 9.45 pm on Tuesday (1345 GMT) and four times throughout Wednesday, the country's volcanology agency said.
The alert level for the volcano, which has a peak of 725 metres above sea level, was then raised on Wednesday evening from three to four, the highest possible level in the four-tiered system.
For outbound flights, three to Tawau and four to Kuala Lumpur had to be cancelled.
For incoming inflights, an aircraft from Tawau which was supposed to fly in at 9am had retimed to 1pm; a Penang flight scheduled to arrive at 9.55am has been retimed to 3.50pm; and a scheduled Kuala Lumpur flight at 10.40am is pending for new timing.
For outbound flights, seven airlines heading to Tawau, Kuching, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore were also retimed.
"We've been informed by airlines of potential flight cancellations and re-timings.Airlines manage their own schedules and have the final say on flight changes.
"To ensure a smooth travel experience, we strongly advise passengers to contact their airline directly for the most up-to-date information on their specific flight, including any cancellations or re-timings.
"We apologise for any inconvenience caused and recommend referencing the airlines for the most accurate flight information."