Fuego and Reventador Ash Advisories, Delays Possible

Published on Nov 9, 2025, 12:16 pm CST

3 min read

Key points

Washington VAAC issued multiple Fuego advisories Nov 8 to 9 with plumes between FL150 and FL170
Reventador advisories show recurring emissions near FL150 to FL160 that can intersect Quito approach paths depending on winds
Easterly winds aloft can push Reventador ash toward the Inter Andean valley and Quito, prompting tactical reroutes and minor spacing
Travelers should recheck day of departures, pad connections at La Aurora and Mariscal Sucre, and watch for aircraft swaps

Impact

Expect Runway And Taxi Delays: Short inspections or engine checks can pause movements at La Aurora or Mariscal Sucre
ATC Spacing And Reroutes: Approaches into Quito may see minor in trail spacing or vectors around ash polygons
Build A Buffer: Add one to two hours for connections through Guatemala City and Quito on November 9
Watch Airline Messaging: Refresh your boarding pass and gate, carriers may swap aircraft or delay turns to avoid ash
Have A Surface Plan: For Guatemala, shared shuttles through Antigua connect to Lake Atitlán on limited schedules

Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Quito, Ecuador. Washington's Volcanic Ash Advisory Center reported continued emissions from Volcán de Fuego on November 8 and 9 with ash observed between flight levels 150 and 170, about 15,000 to 17,000 feet. The sequence included advisories at 108 a.m., 714 a.m., and 11:08 a.m. UTC on November 9, with drift generally west to southwest, supporting occasional air traffic management steps at La Aurora International Airport. Travelers should recheck departures and build extra connection time through the hub.

In Ecuador, Washington VAAC issued multiple Reventador advisories on November 7 and 8 noting intermittent ash to about FL150 to FL160 moving west into the Inter Andean corridor. Because Reventador sits east of Quito, easterly winds aloft can push ash toward Mariscal Sucre approach paths, which may trigger tactical vectors or minor in trail spacing on some arrivals. Flyers connecting in Quito should allow buffers and monitor airline notifications.

Quito wind regimes, why some days matter more

Peer reviewed work on Ecuador's ash cloud trajectories shows a dominant east to west transport during parts of the year, which aligns with events that occasionally bring Reventador ash toward Quito. When those easterlies set up at the operative flight levels, ash can intersect arrival corridors, and controllers may meter flows until dispersion improves.

Airline and ATC playbooks for ash days

Operators and air navigation services use the ICAO International Airways Volcano Watch framework and national procedures to adjust traffic. Expect one or more of the following, depending on plume depth and proximity, pre planned reroutes around advisory polygons, conservative approach spacing, or short ground holds while crews inspect surfaces and inlets. FAA guidance also contemplates ad hoc traffic management initiatives when ash is present. None of the current advisories alone implies a prolonged closure, but the prudent move is to leave margin in your itinerary.

La Aurora, Antigua, and Lake Atitlán fallback

If a late bank slips in Guatemala City, have a same day surface plan. Shared shuttles typically run Airport or Zone 10 to Antigua, then onward to Panajachel for Lake Atitlán with limited departure windows. Private transfers operate on demand at higher cost and are the surest way to preserve a schedule if flights slide. Verify exact times and pickup points before leaving arrivals.

Bottom line

Fuego and Reventador remain active at low to moderate levels. Expect localized, sometimes short notice effects at Guatemala City and Quito, including light dusting in communities downwind, conservative sequencing on approaches, and precautionary ground checks. Keep alerts on, refresh your boarding pass, and pad connections today.