UAE flights to Philippines cancelled after volcanic eruption

Emirates and Etihad grounded flights after authorities suspended operations at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Residents look at the erupting Taal Volcano in Tagaytay City, Philippines, on January 13, 2020. Reuters

A family evacuates to safer grounds. AP Photo

A family walks along a road covered with ash from Taal volcano. AP Photo

Police officers guard a road in Talisay, Batangas. Reuters

A worker hoses down plants covered with mud and ash after Taal volcano erupted, in Talisay town, Batangas. AFP

A dog left in a garage covered with ashes barks in Talisay. Reuters

A bird sits atop a roof covered with ashes in Talisay. Reuters

Residents living near the erupting Taal Volcano evacuate in Lemery, Batangas City. Reuters

Evacuating residents living at the foot of Taal volcano unload their belongings from an outrigger canoe while the volcano spews ash as seen from Tanauan town in Batangas. AFP

Ash deposits surround homes, a day after the eruption of Taal Volcano, in Agoncillo town in Batangas province. EPA

Ash spews into the air from the Taal Volcano in Talisay, Batangas. EPA

Residents living near the errupting Taal Volcano evacuate in Agoncillo, Batangas City. Reuters

Ashfall after the eruption of the Taal volcano is seen in Tagaytay City, Cavite. Reuters

Ashfall after the eruption of the Taal volcano is seen in Tagaytay City, Cavite. Reuters

A man cleans a roof after a volcano eruption in Talisay, Batangas. EPA

A man throws out ash deposits that accumulated on the roof of his home, a day after the eruption of Taal Volcano, in Agoncillo town in Batangas. EPA

Ash and steam spews into the air, a day after the eruption of Taal Volcano, in Agoncillo town in Batangas province. EPA

A man walks along ash fall covered plants and equipment as Taal Volcano continues to spew ash on Monday. AP Photo

A youth living at the foot of Taal volcano rides an outrigger canoe while the volcano spews ash as seen from Tanauan town in Batangas. AFP

A rooster crows as he is covered in ash from Taal Volcano's eruption Monday. AP Photo

A motorcycle rider navigates through a muddy road after a volcano eruption in Talisay, Batangas. EPA

Policemen walk past a damaged post after a volcano eruption in Talisay, Batangas. EPA

A child is carried onboard a rescue vehicle after a volcano eruption in Talisay, Batangas. EPA

Villagers ride a rescue vehicle after a volcano eruption in Talisay, Batangas. EPA

A drug store puts up a sign of masks not available in Makati south of Manila, Philippines. EPA

People take photos of a phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano as seen from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province. AFP

Lightning strikes as a column of ash surrounds the crater of Taal Volcano as it erupts on January 12, 2020. Getty Images

An ash column from Taal Volcano looms over Tagaytay city, Philippines. EPA

Residents walk along a road covered in ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Getty Images

An ash column from erupting Taal Volcano looms over Tagaytay city, Philippines. EPA

A vehicle covered in ash mixed with rainwater. Getty Images

A phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano is seen from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila. AFP

Residents evacuate as Taal Volcano erupts, in Tagaytay, Cavite province, outside Manila, Philippines. AP Photo

A man uses an umbrella to shield him from ashfalls as Taal Volcano erupts in Tagaytay, Cavite province, outside Manila, Philippines. AP Photo

Residents use plastic bags to shield themselves from ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometre high Sunday afternoon. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level to three out of five, warning of the volcano's continued "magmatic unrest." Getty Images

Residents walk along a road covered in ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines. Getty Images

People watch as the Taal volcano spews ash and smoke during an eruption in Tagaytay, Cavite province south of Manila, Philippines. AP Photo

A resident splashes water on a vehicle covered in ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts. Getty Images

Plumes of smoke and ash rise from as Taal Volcano. AP

Villagers take shelter inside a church during an eruption of Taal Volcano, in Talisay, Batangas, Philippines. Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as authorities in the Philippines raised the alert due to increased activity of Taal volcano, located on an island near Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert level from 1 to 3 - on a scale of 5 - after an increase in activity in the crater resulted in an eruption spewing steam and ash up to one-kilometre-high. EPA

A view of a lightning strike over Taal Volcano during an eruption, in Talisay, Batangas, Philippines. Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as the authorities in the Philippines raised the alert due to increased activity of Taal volcano, located on an island near Manila. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert level from 1 to 3 - on a scale of 5 - after an increase in activity in the crater resulted in an eruption spewing steam and ash up to one-kilometer-high. EPA

Flights to the Philippines have been cancelled after a volcano erupted south of the capital Manila, resulting in a giant column of ash that forced closure of the country’s largest airport.

Around 8,000 residents were evacuated on Sunday as the Taal volcano began to rumble, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to raise the alert to level 4, indicating a hazardous eruption was “imminent”.

Both Emirates and Etihad cancelled flights to the country after authorities suspended operations at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport as the volcano spewed a 1km-high ash plume in the sky.

An alternative airport north of Manila, Clark International Airport, remained open, but authorities warned it could close too if ash, which can cause engine failure, threatened flights.

Emirates cancelled five flights to Manila on Monday: EK332, EK333, EK338, EK334 and EK335.

“Emirates’ flights to and from Manila and Clark on 13th January have been cancelled following the eruption of the Taal volcano," said a spokeswoman for Emirates.

“Customers have the option to change their bookings up to seven days for tickets issued on or before 12 January 2020, and should contact their respective Emirates booking offices or Travel Agent for options.

“Emirates apologizes for any inconvenience caused. The safety of our passengers and crew is utmost importance and will not be compromised.”

The Manila-bound Etihad flight EY428 from Abu Dhabi was diverted to Hong Kong on Sunday due to the disruption. Guests will be assisted with their onward travel to Manila when the airport reopens, a spokeswoman for Etihad said.

Flight EY423 from Manila (MNL) to Abu Dhabi (AUH), which was due to depart on Sunday, was also delayed and guests booked on the flight were being provided with hotel accommodation.

In total, four flights between Abu Dhabi and Manila - EY421, EY424, EY423 and EY428 – were cancelled on Monday. In addition, EY421 from Manila to Abu Dhabi is cancelled on Tuesday.

“Flights to and from Manila will resume when the airport reopens and the latest status of these flights is available on etihad.com,” said a spokeswoman for Etihad.

“Etihad Airways Guest Services team is assisting affected guests.

“Etihad Airways is monitoring the situation and will provide continuous updates.”

Lava began flowing out of Taal volcano in the early hours of Monday, as authorities warned a hazardous eruption was expected within hours or days.

The volcano, which is located on a small island in the middle of a lake, is the Philippines’ second most active but one of the world’s smallest.