Air New Zealand said it had cancelled flights in and out of Tauranga today due to an ash cloud from Whaakari/White Island impacting the flight path.
In all, the airline cancelled 29 services in and out of Tauranga, Air New Zealand's chief safety & risk officer Nathan McGraw said.
"We will continue to assess conditions and will resume flying as soon as it is safe to operate in and out of the area. The safety of our customers and crew is our priority, and we are closely monitoring the situation."
McGraw said affected customers would be rebooked on the next available service "to help them reach their final destination safely".
"We recommend customers check the Air New Zealand app or website for the latest updates on their flight."
Alert level and colour code upgraded
This afternoon, Air Sciences New Zealand said it had raised the volcanic alert level to three, and changed the aviation colour code to orange.
Previously, the volcanic alert level had been at two, and the aviation colour code had been at yellow.
In a statement, Earth Sciences New Zealand said steam and gas plume had been visible from the Bay of Plenty coast since "late last week".
"This morning, pilot reports indicate ash is also being emitted in a weak eruption from the main vent area. The images shared with us show ashfall on the main crater floor but no obvious changes to the vent or any eruption of rocks. Small amounts of volcanic sulphur dioxide gas are being detected by the TropOMI satellite sensor."
These observations pointed to a slight increase in activity due to a "non-explosive weak eruption", it added.
"With the current wind direction and strength, and forecast for the next few days, minute traces of ash could reach the Bay of Plenty coast but ashfall is unlikely to be noticeable at ground level.
"The intensity of volcanic activity at Whakaari could escalate with little or no warning, mostly affecting the crater floor area and immediate vicinity of the island, and still with a low likelihood of ashfall affecting on the mainland."
Forecast conditions meant GeoNet camera images and satellite imagery would be unclear. Near-island observations were also unlikely to occur.
"Without sensors on the island, our monitoring of Whakaari/White Island volcano continues to rely on remote cameras, satellite imagery, and periodic obeservation and gas flights."
Scientists would make a gas-measuring and observation flight as soon as weather conditions allowed, it added.
Earth Science New Zealand said its volcano monitoring group and the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre would also continue to observe the island for changes in activity.
Earlier today, Air New Zealand announced it would cancel around 1100 flights amid the global fuel crisis caused by the Iran war, which would affect around 44,000 customers.
On Tuesday, it warned of potential price hikes and schedule changes if the Iran war continued, and suspended its earnings guidance "until fuel markets and operating conditions stabilise".
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