Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s main airport and four other air hubs on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau disrupted air travel for several days. The closures affected nearly 3,000 flights and around 341,000 passengers, creating a major backlog for airlines and travellers.
Operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed from 12:01 am local time on September 8 after aviation authorities assessed conditions in the affected airspace and around the airports. The Indonesian Transport Ministry said several other airports also returned to service after the ash threat eased.
However, the aviation disruption is not entirely over. Authorities are continuing to monitor Anak Krakatau after fresh eruptions on Tuesday, while airlines work to clear cancelled and delayed flights.
Jakarta Airport Resumes Flights
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, which serves the Indonesian capital, resumed operations after being closed because of volcanic ash.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta and Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung were declared operational again from the early hours of Tuesday. Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport in Banten also reopened later.
The reopening followed safety assessments of airport facilities and surrounding airspace.
Nearly 3,000 Flights Hit
The scale of the disruption has been substantial.
According to Indonesia’s Transport Ministry, volcanic ash had affected 2,961 domestic and international flights by Monday afternoon. The disruption included cancellations, delays and diversions and affected approximately 341,000 passengers.
The figures represented a sharp escalation from the earlier disruption estimates as ash continued to affect aviation routes around Java and nearby regions.
Airlines now face the difficult task of moving passengers whose flights were cancelled or delayed during the closures.
Volcanic Ash Forced Closures
Anak Krakatau erupted late last week, sending lava and large quantities of volcanic ash into the atmosphere.
The volcano is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, about 150 kilometres from Jakarta. Ash entered aviation corridors and reached high altitudes, prompting authorities to suspend operations at multiple airports.
Eight airports were initially affected by the disruption. Authorities repeatedly extended closures while monitoring ash concentrations and wind conditions.
Volcanic ash is particularly dangerous for aircraft because it can damage engines and other critical components.
Airlines Face Passenger Backlog
Even after airports reopen, normal flight schedules are unlikely to return immediately.
More than 240 domestic and international flights were cancelled or delayed at Soekarno-Hatta alone on Monday morning, affecting nearly 30,000 passengers, according to airport authorities. The government had also prepared alternative airports for aircraft originally scheduled to land in Jakarta.
Airlines must now reschedule stranded travellers while repositioning aircraft and crews affected by the disruption.
Authorities are also inspecting grounded aircraft before they return to normal service. Reuters reported that 178 aircraft were undergoing airworthiness checks following the ash exposure.
Anak Krakatau Still Active
The reopening does not mean the volcanic threat has ended.
Anak Krakatau erupted again three times on Tuesday, although Indonesia’s geological authorities assessed the latest activity as less severe than the earlier eruption. Further flight disruptions remain possible depending on the amount of ash released and wind direction.
The volcano has remained under close monitoring because changing atmospheric conditions can quickly alter the aviation risk.
Authorities are therefore maintaining safety assessments even as airports return to service.
Volcano Has Deadly History
Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatau”, emerged from the caldera created by the catastrophic 1883 Krakatau eruption.
The volcano has remained intermittently active since then. Its most notorious recent episode came in December 2018, when a collapse of part of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and displaced thousands.
The current eruption has not produced a comparable tsunami threat, but its impact on aviation demonstrates the wider risks posed by Indonesia’s active volcanic landscape.
Travel Recovery Now Begins
Indonesia’s immediate priority is restoring air connectivity while ensuring that aircraft and passengers remain safe.
The reopening of Soekarno-Hatta and four other airports is a significant step towards normal operations, but airlines will need time to clear the accumulated backlog.
With Anak Krakatau still active, aviation authorities are also keeping a close watch on ash levels and wind patterns. The coming days will determine whether the disruption remains limited or triggers another round of airport closures.
For passengers, the reopening offers relief after days of uncertainty, but flight schedules and connections are likely to remain under pressure until airlines work through the backlog.
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