TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s primary airport and several regional hubs on Tuesday following volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau that disrupted numerous flights. Over 340,000 travelers experienced delays, cancellations, or diversions amid the disturbance. Close to 3,000 flights across the country were affected. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after prevailing winds cleared ash from vital aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitoring stations recording three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports resumed their usual 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 already reopened on Monday morning. The latest official transport update indicated that Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung were still under assessment. Safety inspections for aircraft were mandated before airlines could resume normal flights.
The airspace closures occurred after Anak Krakatau emitted volcanic ash that spread across Jakarta’s airspace and surrounding regions. Eight airports halted operations during the event, including Indonesia’s busiest international gateway at Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, making it a major safety concern for aviation. Authorities also restricted aircraft from entering areas where ash was detected through monitoring. The disruption affected both domestic and international flight schedules as airlines adjusted departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements across the impacted airports.
Key airports reopen following ash dispersal
Anak Krakatau’s recent phase of sustained activity commenced late Friday in the Sunda Strait, situated between Java and Sumatra. A continuous eruptive phase began at 11:07 p.m. on Friday and concluded shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring devices recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main eruptive episode ended. Earlier volcanic ash clouds reached altitudes nearing 50,000 feet in some areas, dispersing volcanic debris across parts of western Indonesia and causing disruptions along major flight corridors.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, which is Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert level. A three-kilometer exclusion zone remained enforced around the volcano’s active crater. Officials 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 disregard unverified tsunami reports. The volcano’s monitoring network continued recording seismic and eruptive activity even after the prolonged eruptive phase ended over the weekend.
Disruption affects hundreds of thousands of travelers
Tuesday’s three smaller eruptions occurred as airports navigated the aftermath of the multi-day shutdown. Officials mandated inspections for aircraft that remained grounded during the closure. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft underwent airworthiness checks before returning to full operational status. Pilots and crew received instructions concerning the restricted airspace contaminated with volcanic ash. These safety measures coincided with the reopening of airports after authorities confirmed conditions had improved sufficiently for flight operations.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau is an active volcanic island that emerged from the Krakatau complex. Its activity has heightened throughout 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. The volcano experienced a significant collapse during an eruption in December 2018, which triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia hosts over 100 active volcanoes due to its position along key tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and eruptions are frequent occurrences.
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