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Mount Anak Krakatau’s latest eruption has thrown air travel across western Indonesia into disarray, with volcanic ash forcing the closure of eight airports and leaving an estimated 170,000 travellers stranded after more than 1,500 flights were cancelled or diverted.
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Airports closed as ash drifts over western Indonesia
According to multiple news and aviation reports, the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait intensified over the weekend, sending an ash plume to heights of up to 50,000 feet and drifting over parts of western Java and southern Sumatra. The ash cloud spread across Jakarta’s airspace and key coastal areas, creating hazardous flying conditions and prompting widespread disruption to domestic and international services.
Indonesia’s main international gateway, Soekarno Hatta International Airport near Jakarta, suspended operations on Sunday as ash was detected in the vicinity of runways and flight paths. A second Jakarta airport, Halim Perdanakusuma, also halted flights, while regional airports including Radin Inten II in Lampung and several others on Java and Sumatra joined the shutdowns as ash advisories were expanded.
By Sunday evening, publicly available figures compiled from transport and aviation agencies indicated that eight airports were subject to full or partial closure. Combined, the restrictions led to the cancellation or delay of more than 1,500 flights within roughly 24 hours, as carriers scrambled to reposition aircraft and rework schedules.
Published tallies from regional media and international outlets estimate that around 170,000 passengers have been affected so far, with rolling delays expected to continue while ash concentrations remain above safe operating thresholds along popular domestic and regional routes.
Nationwide knock-on effects for travellers
The cascading impact of the closures has been felt far beyond Jakarta. With Soekarno Hatta operating as a major transit hub for Southeast Asia, cancellations there quickly rippled to secondary cities across Indonesia and onward connections to Australia, the Middle East and other Asian destinations.
Travel coverage indicates that many passengers in Jakarta spent the night in crowded terminals after flights were scrubbed with little notice, while others reported being diverted to alternate airports on Java and Sumatra. Some domestic travellers attempting to reach smaller islands and remote regions faced multi-leg detours or indefinite waits for replacement services.
Internationally bound travellers have been particularly affected on heavily trafficked routes linking Jakarta to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and major Australian cities. Several foreign and Indonesian carriers suspended or curtailed operations into the capital, citing updated ash advisories and the need to keep aircraft clear of contaminated airspace.
Rail and road services on Java have begun to absorb some of the displaced demand as travellers look for overland options between Jakarta, Bandung and other urban centres. However, journey times have lengthened and seat availability remains tight on popular intercity routes, according to regional transport updates.
How the Anak Krakatau eruption is unfolding
Mount Anak Krakatau, a small but historically active volcanic island situated between Java and Sumatra, entered a heightened phase of activity late last week. Monitoring centres reported a series of eruptions beginning on Friday, with ash emissions steadily increasing in volume and altitude through the weekend.
Satellite imagery and ground-based observations shared by regional volcanology agencies show a dense ash column rising above the crater and drifting west and northwest with prevailing winds. Aviation colour codes for the area were raised as ash clouds repeatedly intersected key flight corridors linking Jakarta with other parts of Indonesia and neighbouring countries.
Disaster management briefings cited in local media note that, at this stage, there is no indication of a tsunami threat similar to the deadly 2018 Anak Krakatau flank collapse, which triggered waves across the Sunda Strait. The current disruption is primarily related to airborne ash, which poses a serious risk to aircraft engines and onboard systems if encountered in flight.
Anak Krakatau is one of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, a nation straddling the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. Past eruptions at volcanoes such as Merapi, Kelud and Agung have previously forced temporary airport closures and large-scale evacuations, underscoring the ongoing challenge of balancing aviation safety with the needs of a growing travel market.
Safety priorities and operational outlook
Aviation safety protocols require airlines and air navigation services to avoid any airspace where volcanic ash concentrations are uncertain or exceed agreed thresholds. Even relatively small encounters with ash can damage turbine blades, clog air filters and obscure cockpit windows, making conservative route planning the industry norm in such events.
Publicly available information from Indonesian aviation and transport bodies indicates that airspace restrictions around Jakarta and the other affected airports are being reviewed on a rolling basis. Flight operations are expected to resume gradually once monitoring data confirms that ash clouds have dispersed or shifted away from critical approach and departure corridors.
Some carriers have signalled that they will prioritise stranded passengers once airports reopen, reallocating larger aircraft to high-demand routes and adding extra sections where slots permit. However, given the network-wide disruption and potential for further volcanic activity, observers warn that the backlog of passengers may take several days to clear fully.
Travel analysts note that the episode highlights both the vulnerability of hub-and-spoke air networks to sudden environmental hazards and the increasing importance of real-time ash detection and forecasting systems. Investments in such technology across the Asia Pacific region aim to reduce the duration and scope of future closures, while maintaining strict safety margins for aircraft operations.
Advice for travellers with upcoming flights
For travellers with imminent plans to fly into or out of western Indonesia, published travel advisories recommend closely monitoring airline notifications, airport websites and trusted news outlets for schedule changes. Many carriers are offering limited fee waivers or flexible rebooking options for passengers whose journeys have been directly affected by the Anak Krakatau disruption.
Where possible, passengers are being encouraged to avoid heading to the airport until their flight status is confirmed as operating, as terminal congestion has been reported at several affected hubs. Those whose flights have been cancelled are often being rebooked on the next available services, though options may be constrained for travel over the next few days.
Travellers already in Indonesia and needing to move between cities on Java or Sumatra may wish to consider rail or coach alternatives while flight schedules remain unstable. However, demand for overland services is likely to remain elevated during the disruption, so advance reservations are advisable where they are available.
For longer-haul journeys involving connections through Jakarta, some travel experts suggest exploring rerouting options via alternative hubs in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Denpasar, subject to airline policies and fare conditions. Flexible itineraries and additional buffer time between onward flights may help reduce the risk of missed connections as the aviation system recovers.
The Guardian: Volcano eruption in Indonesia leaves 170,000 travellers stranded
CNA: Eight Indonesian airports remain shut due to volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau
Al Jazeera: Thousands stranded as Anak Krakatau eruption shutters Indonesian airports
ITV News: Hundreds of flights cancelled after erupting Indonesian volcano causes giant ash clouds