TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional terminals on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau caused significant air travel disruptions. The volcanic activity impacted nearly 3,000 flights and affected more than 340,000 travelers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed its operations once authorities confirmed that ash levels had decreased. Monitoring teams reported three smaller eruptions on Tuesday morning. The volcano remains at Level III, the second-highest alert level in Indonesia.
Early Tuesday, the Ministry of Transportation announced the reopening of Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports shortly after midnight. Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport resumed operations just over two hours later. Additionally, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had reopened the previous day. Meanwhile, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung are still under review. Authorities have mandated safety inspections for aircraft affected by the prolonged ash dispersal before allowing them to resume flights.
The temporary closure was triggered when Anak Krakatau emitted ash into the airspace over Jakarta and surrounding regions. During this period, eight airports suspended their services, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines responded by adjusting both domestic and international flight schedules as ash spread over major routes. Volcanic ash poses serious hazards to aircraft engines and visibility, prompting aviation officials to restrict flights in areas with detected ash clouds. The shutdown resulted in widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions throughout the country’s air network.
Airports Restart Services Following Major Disruptions
Late Friday, Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase within the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The continuous eruptive activity started at 11:07 p.m. and continued until shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring devices later recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase concluded. In some locations, ash plumes rose nearly 50,000 feet high, dispersing across parts of western Indonesia and leading authorities to restrict access to the affected airspace.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s summit. Officials advised residents affected by ash fall to limit outdoor activities and wear masks. They also urged coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely solely on official information channels and warned residents against circulating unverified tsunami warnings. After the eruptive phase ended, ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions continued to be recorded by monitoring instruments around the volcanic island.
Passenger Numbers Exceed 340,000 Due to Disruptions
Following the disruptions, airport authorities worked diligently to restore normal operations on Tuesday. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 grounded aircraft underwent safety inspections before flights could resume. Flight crews were briefed on updated restrictions concerning airspace and volcanic ash concerns. Authorities prioritized assessing conditions at affected airports before returning to full service. This disruption stands out as one of the most significant operational impacts caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity during this eruptive episode.
Located within the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau emerged from the volcanic system linked to the historic Krakatau eruptions. Throughout 2026, the volcano has demonstrated increased activity, with eruptions recorded since July. Notably, a major collapse during an eruption in December 2018 triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia is home to over 100 active volcanoes and is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common.