TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday following volcanic ash emissions from Anak Krakatau that interfered with air traffic. Over 340,000 travelers encountered delays, cancellations, or diversions amid the disruptions. Almost 3,000 flights across Indonesia were affected by the ash cloud. Authorities managed to reopen Soekarno-Hatta International Airport once winds cleared ash from key aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitoring stations detecting three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports resumed their operations at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra reopened earlier on Monday morning, while Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport started at 2:25 a.m. Currently, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung are still under assessment according to the latest official transportation update. Prior to resuming normal flights, authorities mandated safety inspections for all aircraft.
The airspace closures occurred after Anak Krakatau’s volcanic ash was dispersed across regions serving Jakarta and nearby areas. During the disruption, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub, Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, making it a significant hazard in aviation. The authorities also imposed restrictions on aircraft entering zones where ash was detected. As airlines adjusted schedules, the disruption impacted both domestic and international flights, with departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements affected across the affected airports.
Major airports reopen following ash clearance
The latest phase of heightened activity from Anak Krakatau began late Friday in the Sunda Strait, located between Java and Sumatra. A continuous eruptive phase started at 11:07 p.m. Friday and ceased shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring stations recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the primary phase ended. Earlier ash plumes reached altitudes near 50,000 feet in some regions, dispersing volcanic debris across parts of western Indonesia and disrupting key flight corridors.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, which is Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert level. Authorities enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active center. Residents in affected areas were advised to limit outdoor activities or use masks to avoid volcanic ash inhalation. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were instructed to follow official directives and dismiss unverified tsunami warnings. The volcano’s monitoring network continued to record seismic and eruptive activity even after the extended eruption phase concluded over the weekend.
Travel delays impact hundreds of thousands of passengers
The three smaller eruptions on Tuesday occurred amidst the ongoing recovery process from the multi-day shutdown. Officials mandated inspections for aircraft that remained grounded during the ash dispersal. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft needed airworthiness checks before resuming full operations. Pilots and crew received updated instructions regarding restricted airspace affected by volcanic ash. These measures coincided with the reopening of airports once authorities determined conditions were sufficiently safe for flight activities.
Anak Krakatau is an active volcanic island in the Sunda Strait, part of the Krakatau volcanic complex. Its activity has intensified in 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. The volcano also experienced a significant collapse during an eruption in December 2018, which triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia hosts more than 100 active volcanoes due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.