Qantas cancels flights due to volcanic ash

Qantas has cancelled flights between Australia and New Zealand tomorrow with volcanic ash from an eruption in Chile due to drift over the South Island.

The carrier has cancelled five flights in total - one from Hobart to Melbourne, two between Sydney and Christchurch and another two between Sydney and Queenstown.

The eruption is causing travel chaos in parts of Argentina and Uruguay and has also affected flights in the south of Brazil.

Chile's Puyehue volcano is more than 9,000 kilometres away from New Zealand. Strong winds have carried its ash across the Pacific since the eruption seven days ago.

Officials are expecting problems for air travel for up to a week.

But Air New Zealand says it will adjust flight routes and altitudes as required, and it does not expect any of its flights to be grounded.


Qantas cancels flights due to volcanic ash