Holidaymakers heading for Bali have suffered another setback after their delayed Air New Zealand plane was forced to return to Auckland today.
Bali's airport at Denpasar was closed for days as clouds of gritty ash - potentially hazardous to airline jet engines - spewed from Mount Raung in eastern Java.
Thousands of travellers were left stranded as airlines worldwide had to cancel flights.
The airport reopened on Saturday but the ash is still causing havoc in the Denpasar airspace.
Delayed Air New Zealand flight NZ245 took off from Auckland about 3.20am on Sunday, after an almost 12-hour wait after its scheduled departure time of 4.20pm on Saturday.
But the plane was forced to turn around over Australia today, about halfway to its Denpasar destination.
More than 200 passengers were expected to arrive back in Auckland at 1.20pm after the almost 10-hour flight.
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said a forecast change in wind direction mean the ash was expected to impact operations at the Densapar airport when flight NZ245 was expected to land.
The service had to return to Auckland as a result, she said.
Another Air New Zealand flight from Bali to Auckland scheduled to leave today had been cancelled.
They were the only two Air New Zealand flights scheduled between New Zealand and Bali for the next few days, she said.
Jetstar said in a statement that all of its scheduled flights to and from Bali were set to depart tomorrow as scheduled.
There were no seats left on the airline's additional flights from Bali to Australia scheduled tomorrow, it said.
Insurance Council New Zealand's Communications manager Sarah Knox says travel insurance cover in this situation was dependent on each provider.
"Call your travel insurance company to discuss your situation, as all insurers have 24-hour assistance available."