Volcanic ash cloud activity in New Zealand‘s Bay of Plenty region has triggered multiple flight cancellations by Air New Zealand, disrupting travel plans and grounding aircraft at Tauranga Airport. The cause: a sudden eruption at Whakaari, also known as White Island, on Sunday, May 12, which sent a plume of ash and gas into the atmosphere, prompting serious aviation safety concerns.

The ash cloud, propelled westward by light easterly winds, quickly moved into active airspace, creating hazardous flying conditions and forcing aircraft out of position. In response, Air New Zealand canceled four scheduled flights on Sunday evening and two more on Monday morning, citing operational impacts from displaced planes.

The Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued an official warning shortly after satellite images revealed that the ash plume was spreading farther than initially predicted. Authorities confirmed ongoing low-level eruptive activity, with White Island now sitting at Volcanic Alert Level Three and the Aviation Colour Code at Orange, indicating continued risk to air travel.

Tauranga Airport, a key hub for regional flights in the North Island, was one of the areas most affected. Flight crews were grounded, and passengers were left scrambling to rearrange travel plans. Air New Zealand urged customers to monitor live updates and check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.