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Volcanic ash from Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption disrupted air travel across Southeast Asia on 6 September 2026, cancelling 31 Malaysia–Jakarta flights and temporarily closing Jakarta’s main international gateway.
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Jakarta airport closure ripples across Malaysian gateways
Publicly available information from airport and airline notices shows that operations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were suspended on Sunday after ash from Anak Krakatau drifted across the capital’s airspace. The shutdown halted most movements at Indonesia’s busiest hub during the morning and early afternoon, triggering widespread delays and cancellations across domestic and international networks.
Regional coverage indicates that at least 209 flights at Soekarno-Hatta were disrupted, affecting more than 22,000 passengers as airlines diverted, delayed or cancelled rotations in and out of Jakarta. Routes linking Jakarta with Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Doha and Amsterdam were among those affected as carriers adjusted flight paths to avoid ash-contaminated skies.
Indonesia’s geological agency reports an intensification of activity at Anak Krakatau since July, with the early September eruption producing extensive ash clouds over the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Aviation safety advisories classify volcanic ash as a significant hazard for jet engines, prompting airport authorities and carriers to take a conservative approach to flight operations in the region.
While the airport closure at Soekarno-Hatta was reported as temporary, with operations resuming later in the day, the interruption created knock-on effects as aircraft and crews were left out of position. Schedules across multiple airlines are expected to remain irregular for at least several days as operators work through backlogs and rebook stranded travelers.
31 Malaysia–Jakarta flights cancelled in a single day
Data compiled from Malaysian airport operator statements and national news reports shows that 31 flights between Malaysia and Jakarta were cancelled on 6 September. The cancellations were recorded across several airports, including Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s two terminals, Penang, Kuching, Subang and Kota Bharu.
Figures from Malaysia Airports Holdings indicate that Kuala Lumpur International Airport accounted for the largest share, with 21 cancellations of Jakarta-bound and inbound services. Penang reported six cancelled flights on the city-pair, while Kuching registered one, Subang two and Kota Bharu one. The disruption affected both full-service and low-cost carriers that rely on Jakarta as a key regional link.
Separate Malaysian-language and English-language coverage aligns on the overall total, describing “31 flights to Jakarta cancelled at airports nationwide” over the course of the day. The cancellations spanned departures scheduled from early morning around 6:45 a.m. through late evening close to midnight, highlighting the duration of the ash-related restrictions.
Travelers booked on Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta and secondary-city–Jakarta services faced last-minute changes as airlines removed flights from schedules or delayed them indefinitely. In many cases, passengers received notifications advising them not to proceed to the airport until they had confirmed a revised itinerary.
Airlines in Malaysia adjust schedules and offer options
Carriers operating the busy Malaysia–Jakarta corridor moved quickly to adjust schedules and publish advisories. According to published airline statements, Malaysia Airlines cancelled a block of Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta services, listing a dozen affected flight numbers in its travel advisory and warning that further changes remained possible as ash movement continued to be monitored.
News reports collating airline information indicate that Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air together cancelled around 20 flights between Malaysia and Jakarta on Sunday, while additional cancellations by other operators contributed to the nationwide total of 31 flights. Batik Air’s Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta services were among those removed, with the carrier flagging options for rebooking on later dates or requesting refunds subject to its policies.
Low-cost operator AirAsia also issued a regional advisory, noting that numerous flights to and from Jakarta had been cancelled or rescheduled because of the ash cloud. The airline emphasized that volcanic ash poses a significant threat to aircraft safety and indicated that flight paths potentially intersecting the plume would be avoided until conditions improved.
Other regional airlines, including Singapore-based Scoot, listed select Jakarta services as cancelled as a precaution. Online travel advisories encourage passengers to check their flight status through airline websites and mobile apps, with most carriers signalling flexibility around rebooking, travel credits or refunds for those whose journeys were directly affected by the Anak Krakatau eruption.
Thousands of travelers face delays, rebookings and overnight stays
The combined effect of airport closures in Indonesia and route suspensions in Malaysia has left thousands of travelers facing disrupted itineraries. Regional news outlets estimate that nearly 23,000 passengers in and out of Jakarta alone encountered cancellations, delays or diversions on 6 September, with many more indirectly affected by missed connections and re-timed onward flights.
At Malaysian airports, passengers heading to Jakarta or planning to connect onward through the Indonesian capital encountered check-in counters displaying cancelled flight boards throughout the day. Some travelers were able to secure same-day alternatives via other Southeast Asian hubs, while others accepted later departure dates or elected to postpone their trips entirely.
Airport operator advisories in both countries stress that volcanic ash forecasts remain fluid, meaning further operational changes are possible at short notice. Travelers holding tickets on Malaysia–Jakarta routes over the coming days are being urged to monitor their booking status closely and allow additional time for rebooking or rerouting if required.
For those already en route when disruptions intensified, airlines and airports have been arranging accommodation, meal vouchers and ground transport where applicable under their respective policies and local regulations. However, with finite hotel capacity near major hubs and simultaneous disruptions across multiple carriers, same-day arrangements have varied widely by airport and by airline.
What Anak Krakatau’s eruption means for future travel plans
Anak Krakatau, whose name means “child of Krakatau,” sits in the Sunda Strait on the maritime corridor between Java and Sumatra. The volcano is the remnant of the caldera formed after the cataclysmic 1883 Krakatoa eruption and has shown renewed activity periodically in recent decades. The latest phase of unrest, intensifying since mid-2026, has reminded airlines and travelers alike of the region’s exposure to volcanic hazards.
Aviation analysts note that Southeast Asia’s dense network of short- and medium-haul routes, combined with prevailing winds around the equator, means even a single erupting volcano can produce wide-ranging effects on airline schedules. When eruptions inject ash into common cruising altitudes, operators must either reroute around contaminated airspace or suspend flights altogether.
For upcoming trips, travel advisories recommend that passengers build additional flexibility into itineraries involving Jakarta or nearby Indonesian destinations, particularly for tight international connections. Purchasing tickets on a single itinerary where possible can help ensure that onward flights are protected if a Jakarta sector is cancelled, while travel insurance policies that include volcanic disruption cover may provide added reassurance.
Tourism observers expect that traffic between Malaysia and Indonesia will recover relatively quickly once Anak Krakatau’s ash emissions diminish and airspace restrictions are lifted. However, the events of 6 September serve as a reminder that in a volcanically active region, travel plans can be upended at short notice, and that monitoring official advisories and airline updates is an essential part of flying through Southeast Asia’s busy skies.
Malaysia Airlines: flights to/from Jakarta advisory
Bernama: 31 Jakarta-bound flights from Malaysia cancelled