Ash plume from Chilean volcano Cordon Caulle continues to disrupt air trave in Australia. Virgin Australia announced suspending all flights into and out of New Zealand for the duration of today.

As a result, there will continue to be some flow on affects on Pacific Blue flights between Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Virgin said it plans to resume services to Launceston from midday today (AEST), 23 June 2011, as the volcanic ash plume moves away to the east of northern Tasmania. The airline operates direct flights to Launceston from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Based on the latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, services to Hobart will remain suspended. However, the airline is confident that services to Hobart will be able to return to normal tomorrow, 24 June 2011.

Earlier today, Qantas Airways’ budget airline Jetstar also advised that its New Zealand services, both domestic and Trans Tasman will be cancelled for the rest of today, June 23.

Flights to and from Launceston, remain cancelled until approximately 1200 today and flights to and from Hobart, remain cancelled until approximately 1700 today AEST.

The airline said it is closely monitoring the ash cloud in conjunction with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Services to and from Melbourne, Avalon, Sydney, Adelaide and Newcastle will operate to schedule, with the exception of services to and from Tasmania and Trans Tasman flights.

All other Australian domestic services will operate to schedule.