TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday following the dispersal of volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau, which had previously disrupted air travel. The disturbance resulted in delays, cancellations, or diversions for over 340,000 travelers. The impact was felt across almost 3,000 flights throughout Indonesia. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after winds cleared ash from critical aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitoring stations recording three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports resumed their operations at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport followed suit at 2:25 a.m. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had reopened the previous Monday morning. Two airports in Lampung, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas, remained under review pending further assessments in the latest official transportation update. Airport authorities also mandated safety inspections of aircraft before resuming regular flights.
The airspace closures were triggered after Anak Krakatau released volcanic ash over areas serving Jakarta and its surroundings. During the disruption, eight airports halted operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international gateway at Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, making it a significant hazard for aviation. Authorities also restricted aircraft from entering airspace where ash was detected through monitoring. The disruption affected domestic and international flight schedules as airlines adjusted departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements across affected facilities.
Major airports reopen following ash dispersal
The recent period of heightened activity at Anak Krakatau began late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. A persistent eruptive episode commenced at 11:07 p.m. Friday, concluding shortly after midnight Sunday, lasting roughly 25 hours. Monitoring data showed additional Strombolian eruptions after the main eruptive phase ended. Earlier ash plumes reached altitudes nearing 50,000 feet in certain regions, dispersing volcanic material across parts of western Indonesia and disrupting key flight routes.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert level. A three-kilometer exclusion zone was enforced around the volcano’s active core. Authorities advised residents affected by volcanic ash to minimize outdoor activities or wear masks. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were instructed to follow official guidance and dismiss unverified tsunami warnings. The volcano’s monitoring network continued recording seismic and eruptive activity after the prolonged eruption concluded over the weekend.
Flight disruptions impact hundreds of thousands of travelers
Tuesday’s three smaller eruptions occurred as airports managed the aftermath of the multi-day shutdown. Officials mandated inspections for aircraft that remained grounded during the closure. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft were checked for airworthiness before resuming full service. Pilots and operational crews received guidance regarding restricted airspace containing volcanic ash. These safety measures accompanied the reopening of airports, as authorities judged conditions had improved sufficiently to allow flight operations to restart.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau is an active volcanic island that emerged from the Krakatau volcanic complex. Its activity has intensified during 2026, with eruptions documented since July. The volcano also underwent a significant collapse during a December 2018 eruption, which triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia hosts more than 100 active volcanoes, due to its position along major tectonic boundaries in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and eruptions frequently occur.