TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional airports Tuesday following volcanic ash emissions from Anak Krakatau that temporarily disrupted air travel. During the disturbance, over 340,000 travelers experienced delays, cancellations, or diversions. Almost 3,000 flights across the country were affected. Authorities resumed operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after the wind cleared ash from critical 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 operations at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport followed suit at 2:25 a.m., while Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already reopened Monday morning. The latest official transport update indicated that Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung were still awaiting further assessment. Before returning to normal, authorities mandated safety inspections for aircraft to ensure operational safety.
The closures were triggered when Anak Krakatau’s volcanic ash spread across airspace servicing Jakarta and nearby regions. Eight airports halted operations during the period, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub at Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses a serious hazard to aviation as it can damage aircraft engines and impair visibility. Consequently, authorities restricted aircraft from entering ash-affected airspace, causing widespread disruptions to domestic and international flight schedules as airlines adjusted departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements across impacted airports.
Major airports reopen following ash dispersal
Anak Krakatau’s recent sustained activity began late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. An eruptive episode, starting at 11:07 p.m. Friday, continued for about 25 hours before ending shortly after midnight Sunday. Even after the main eruption phase, monitoring recorded additional Strombolian eruptions. Earlier ash clouds reached altitudes nearing 50,000 feet in certain areas, dispersing volcanic material across western Indonesia and disrupting key flight corridors.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert level, and enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active site. 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 dismiss unverified tsunami claims. The volcano’s monitoring network continued recording seismic and eruptive activity after the extended eruptive phase concluded over the weekend.
Disruptions impact hundreds of thousands of travelers
Tuesday’s three smaller eruptions occurred as airports managed the aftermath of the multi-day shutdown. Authorities ordered aircraft inspections for those still grounded during the closure. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft required airworthiness checks before resuming full service. Pilots and crew members received instructions regarding restricted airspace contaminated with volcanic ash. These safety measures coincided with the reopening of airports, following officials’ assessment that conditions had improved sufficiently for flights to operate safely.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau is an active volcanic island that emerged from the Krakatau complex. Its activity has escalated throughout 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 position along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where frequent earthquakes and eruptions are common.