Ash and smoke from a volcanic eruption in Tonga are causing some flight cancellations in the region.
Air NZ flights to Tonga diverted or cancelled due to ash from Hunga Ha'apai eruption http://t.co/EnC3ZYVqXq pic.twitter.com/PvrUQVE3zy
— Stuff.co.nz News (@NZStuff) January 12, 2015
Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia say ash billowing out of the Hunga Ha'apai volcano has forced them to cancel flights in and out of Tonga, stranding hundreds of people.
The airline said about 300 people were booked yesterday and today to travel on two flights from Tonga to Auckland.
Air New Zealand had to divert its Auckland to Tonga flight yesterday to Samoa, and cancelled the same service to the country today.
Virgin Australia said it cancelled a Sydney to Tonga flight yesterday, and a Tonga to Auckland flight early this morning.
