More news on this day
A major eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano has forced the closure of key airports around Jakarta and across western Indonesia, disrupting thousands of flights and leaving hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded at terminals and transit hubs.
Get the latest news straight to your inbox!
Airports closed as ash cloud spreads across western Indonesia
Indonesia’s main international gateway, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport near Jakarta, suspended operations after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in surrounding airspace. Publicly available information shows that airspace restrictions were expanded to include Jakarta’s secondary Halim Perdanakusuma airport and several regional hubs as ash drifted across the Sunda Strait and western Java.
Reports indicate that a total of eight airports were initially affected as the ash plume spread, including Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Husein Sastranegara in Bandung, and Radin Inten II in Lampung on the southern tip of Sumatra. Notices to air missions set out rolling closure times, with authorities repeatedly extending suspensions while conditions were reassessed.
By Monday, seven airports remained partially or fully shut, according to regional media and aviation advisories, even as monitoring agencies reported that the intensity of the eruption had begun to ease. Operators have stated that closures are being maintained to allow thorough inspections and cleaning of runways, taxiways and parked aircraft exposed to abrasive volcanic ash.
Indonesia’s transportation authorities have also highlighted that any reopening will be closely tied to ongoing satellite and meteorological assessments of ash concentration, rather than fixed timelines, citing aviation-safety protocols developed after previous global ash incidents.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded and flights canceled
The ash-related closures have rippled across domestic and international networks, with cancellations and diversions affecting routes linking Jakarta to Southeast Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Early counts from published coverage indicated that more than 1,500 flights were canceled on the first full day of disruption, and subsequent tallies suggest over 2,300 flights have now been affected across the network.
At Soekarno-Hatta alone, several hundred thousand passengers have faced cancellations or extended delays. One national news agency report estimated that roughly 270,000 to 340,000 travelers have been impacted across the seven airports that remained closed into Monday, while a separate breakdown cited about 30,000 passengers disrupted at Jakarta’s main hub in a single day.
Regional and international carriers have been forced to ground or reroute services, with some long-haul flights diverting to alternative airports in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and other Southeast Asian hubs. Images and video from Jakarta’s terminals show long lines at airline counters as travelers seek rebooking options, refunds or overnight accommodation.
Travel advisories issued by several airlines in the region outline waivers for change fees and fare differences on affected itineraries, particularly for tickets issued before the eruption with travel dates through mid-September. Passengers are being encouraged to monitor airline websites and apps, as well as airport social channels, for the latest operational updates.
Alternative airports, ferries and ground transport pressed into service
In response to the prolonged closures, Indonesia’s transport authorities have moved to expand capacity at alternative airports outside the ash-affected zone. According to official statements reported by local media, operating hours at several secondary hubs have been extended to 24 hours to accommodate additional domestic and international traffic.
Information from state-linked airport operators shows that at least five alternative airports across Java and Sumatra are being used as relief gateways for diverted flights and rebooked passengers. Trunk routes between these hubs and major cities are being prioritized to help clear backlogs once aircraft and crews become available.
Ground transport links have also been stepped up. National news wires report that free shuttle buses and trains are being deployed to move stranded passengers from Jakarta’s closed Soekarno-Hatta airport to functioning airports on Java. In parallel, ferry connections between key ports are being signposted as an option for some international travelers trying to reach onward flights in neighboring countries.
Despite these measures, travel planners note that capacity constraints and crew rostering limits mean that disruption is likely to persist for days even after airports begin to reopen. Tourism and business travel across the wider region are already being affected as conferences, package tours and corporate trips are postponed or rerouted.
Volcanic risk and aviation: why ash is so disruptive
Anak Krakatau sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, in the caldera left by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatau. Volcanologists describe the current episode as one of the most energetic at Anak Krakatau in recent years, with explosive activity sending ash several kilometers into the atmosphere and depositing a fine layer across parts of Lampung and Banten provinces.
For aviation, even relatively thin concentrations of volcanic ash pose significant risks. The particles can sandblast cockpit windows, contaminate cabin air systems and, most critically, melt and accumulate inside jet engines, potentially causing power loss. These hazards have led to stringent international guidelines that require flight paths to avoid any detectable ash clouds.
Indonesia’s air navigation service provider has cited test results showing ash present in airspace over and around Jakarta as the basis for its decision to close affected airports. Volcanic ash advisory centers in the region have been issuing regular graphics and bulletins mapping the location and projected drift of the ash plume, which airlines use for flight planning.
Specialists point out that while Anak Krakatau’s current eruption is far smaller in scale than the historic 1883 event, its proximity to one of Southeast Asia’s busiest aviation corridors makes even a moderate ash plume highly disruptive. The situation has prompted renewed attention to contingency plans drawn up after previous volcanic crises across Indonesia’s vast archipelago.
What travelers with upcoming trips to Indonesia should know
For travelers with near-term itineraries to or via Indonesia, publicly available guidance from airlines and tourism bodies emphasizes flexibility and close monitoring. Many carriers serving Jakarta are allowing one-time fee-free changes or refunds for tickets booked before the eruption with travel dates over the coming week, although exact terms vary by airline and fare type.
Travel industry advisories suggest that passengers check whether their flight is routed through Jakarta or other affected airports, and consider rerouting through alternative hubs in the region where possible. Some itineraries to popular destinations such as Bali are being rebooked via direct services that do not transit the capital.
Travel insurers are also flagging that volcanic activity may be treated differently depending on the policy, especially for new bookings made after the eruption became widely reported. Passengers are being encouraged to review policy wording on natural disasters and trip interruption, and to keep documentation of airline notifications and delays for any future claims.
For now, meteorological agencies continue to monitor Anak Krakatau for further explosive activity, while airport operators work to clear ash and restore normal operations. With hundreds of thousands of travelers waiting on new flight plans, the speed of the clean-up and the behavior of the volcano in the coming days will determine how quickly Indonesia’s air network can return to its usual pace.
AP News coverage of Anak Krakatau eruption and airport closures
Channel NewsAsia report on stranded passengers and seven airports closed
Euronews summary of flight disruptions and ash impact
ANTARA News update on alternative airports and transport measures