TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau disrupted air travel. Over 340,000 travelers faced delays, cancellations, or diversions amid the chaos. Close to 3,000 flights across Indonesia were impacted. Authorities resumed operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after wind conditions cleared ash from key aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitors recording three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports resumed services at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport followed suit at 2:25 a.m. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra reopened on Monday morning. Two airports in Lampung, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas, still awaited further evaluation according to the latest official transport update. Airport authorities also mandated safety inspections on aircraft before normal operations could restart.
The closures occurred after Anak Krakatau dispersed volcanic ash across airspace serving Jakarta and neighboring regions. During the disruption, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international gateway at Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses a serious hazard to aviation as it can cause engine damage and impair visibility. Authorities also restricted aircraft from entering monitored airspace where ash was detected. The disruption affected both domestic and international schedules, prompting airlines to adjust departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements across the affected airports.
Major airports reopen following ash clearance
Anak Krakatau entered a prolonged active phase late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. A persistent eruptive episode began at 11:07 p.m. that night and concluded shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase ended. Earlier ash plumes reached altitudes close to 50,000 feet in some locations, 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. Authorities enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active site. Residents in affected areas were advised to limit outdoor activities or wear masks to reduce ash inhalation. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung received official guidance to follow safety instructions and to dismiss unverified tsunami alerts. Despite the cessation of the continuous eruption, seismic and eruptive activity continued to be recorded by the volcano’s monitoring network over the weekend.
Hundreds of thousands face travel delays due to volcanic activity
The three smaller eruptions on Tuesday occurred as airports worked through 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 resuming full operations. Pilots and crew received instructions regarding the restricted airspace affected by volcanic ash. These safety measures accompanied the reopening of airports once authorities confirmed conditions had sufficiently improved for safe flight operations.
Anak Krakatau is an active volcano situated in the Sunda Strait and formed from 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 over 100 active volcanoes due to its location along major tectonic boundaries in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent earthquakes and eruptions.