TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of airlines have suffered financial loses worth billions of Rupiah due to the recent increasing volcanic activities of Mount Raung in Bondowoso, East Java province, reports said Saturday, July 25, 2015.

Volcanic ashes from the mountain has forced the closure of several airports for several times since 10 July, forcing airlines to cancel a number of flights.

Transportation Ministry has also issued an notice to airman, instructing the closure of five airports, including Juanda airport in Surabaya, Abdurrahman Saleh airport in Malang, Notohadinegoro airport in Jember, Blimbingsari airport in Banyuwangi, and I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar, Bali.

PT Citilink Indonesia spokesperson Benny S. Butarbutar estimated that the airline suffered from more than Rp 5 billion in financial losses following the closure of the airports. In the meantie, Lion Air reported Rp 8 billion in financial losses. Sriwijaya Air also suffered from the same fate but the airline’s spokesperson Agus Soedjono declined to reveal the amount.

In the meantime, President Director of national carrier Garuda Indonesia Arif Wibowo said that the airline had not calculated the financial losses due to the eruption.

In addition to Mount Raung, four other volcanoes are also being monitored by Transportation Ministry.

They are Mount Sinabung in North Sumatera, Mount Gamalama in Ternate, Mount Dukono in Halmahera, and Mount Sirung in East Nusa Tenggara

On Wednesday last week, Transportation Ministry also closed Leuser airport and TApak Tuan airport in North Sumatera.

KHAIRUL ANAM | JONIANSYAH | SINGGIH SOARES | ROBBY IRFANY