All flights in and out of Bali have been cancelled

Clouds of ash filling the air around Bali forced the closure of airports leaving Kiwis among the thousands stranded.

Authorities increased the Mount Agung volcano alert to the highest level and ordered people within 10km to leave yesterday while Lombok and Bali airports closed and cancelled all flights.

The volcano has been shooting ash thousands of metres into the air since Saturday.

Kiwi couple Courtney and Jamie Armstrong had been on their honeymoon on Lombok for the past fortnight but were stuck after their flight was cancelled yesterday, she told the Herald.

After their Sunday afternoon flight had been scrapped they were rebooked on to another flight to Singapore on Monday. They had missed their connecting flight to New Zealand but this second flight had also been rescheduled.

"We were rescheduled on to a flight at 12pm. Then we got another email last night around 12 to say there's been another delay and we'd be leaving around 3pm," Armstrong said.

Airline Silk Air, which was owned by Singapore Airlines, put the pair up in a hotel on Sunday night. The airline was also providing the couple with updates as they came in.

Auckland-based pilot Jesse Lindsay was also stranded at the international airport yesterday.

Spending the past week in Bali, he arrived at the airport on Sunday to find his flight had been cancelled.

Lindsay got on another flight last night, saying it was lucky he had managed to get away that soon.

Officials would consider reopening Bali's International airport todayafter evaluating the situation.

Jetstar cancelled all flights in and out of Bali because of the eruption.

"While these disruptions are frustrating, we will always put safety before schedule," the carrier said in a statement.

Disaster officials said ash up to half a centimetre thick settled on villages around the volcano and soldiers and police had distributed masks.

Flight Centre general manager Sean Berenson said that the company had been working with customers travelling to the region to provide support and advice.

He said that cancelling all flights was a safety precaution.

"The ash cloud it produces can pose a threat to aircraft flying in the area.

"This is because volcanic ash is hard and abrasive, and can damage propellers and turbocompressor blades, as well as scratching cockpit windows which impairs visibility," Berenson said.

He added that Kiwis should not assume that their flights had been scrapped.

"It is important customers do not assume flights will be cancelled; Kiwis due to travel should speak with their travel expert ASAP so that they can check the status of their flight or contact the carrier to confirm," Berenson said.