Bali flight delayed as ash continues to spew

Bali's airport at Denpasar has been closed for three days as clouds of gritty ash continues to spew from Mount Ruang. Photo / Getty Images

Air New Zealand has delayed its scheduled flight from Auckland to Bali tomorrow as ash from an Indonesian volcano continues to wreak havoc with international air traffic in the region.

Bali's airport at Denpasar has been closed for three days as clouds of gritty ash - potentially hazardous to airline jet engines - continue to spew from Mount Ruang in eastern Java.

Thousands of travellers have been left stranded as airlines in the region have been forced to cancel flights.

Air New Zealand today announced flight NZ245, which was scheduled to depart Auckland at 4.30pm tomorrow, had now been delayed until early Sunday morning,

The service would now depart at 3am, weather and ash conditions permitting.

The delay would have a knock-on effect on the return service from Bali to Auckland, flight NZ246, which would also be delayed.

Air New Zealand said the situation would be reviewed again tomorrow, with an update no later than 6pm tomorrow.

"We apologise for the inconvenience to passengers, however, the ash conditions are outside Air New Zealand's safety parameters and we're unable to operate until the situation improves."