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Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport temporarily halted flights in the early hours of September 6, 2026, after volcanic ash from Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano was detected over the airport, disrupting operations at one of Southeast Asia’s busiest hubs.
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Short overnight shutdown as ash detected over Jakarta hub
Publicly available information indicates that Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) suspended flight operations for several hours on Sunday, September 6, following the spread of ash from Anak Krakatau’s latest eruption. Notices to air missions (NOTAM) cited the presence of volcanic ash in the vicinity of the airfield as the reason for the temporary closure.
According to local media summaries of NOTAM A3341/26, runway operations were paused from around 01:30 to 05:30 local time, affecting both departures and arrivals. The decision followed ground tests that showed traces of ash on the airfield surface, prompting aviation authorities and airport operators to halt movements while conditions were reassessed.
The closure came after several reports over the weekend that Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, had entered a more active phase. Satellite imagery and aviation weather advisories tracked ash clouds drifting toward Java’s northwest coast, bringing them into the airspace used by flights into and out of Jakarta.
By mid-morning on September 6, reports from Indonesian outlets suggested that visibility and ash conditions over Soekarno-Hatta had improved sufficiently for the airport to begin resuming normal operations, although residual disruption to airline schedules continued.
Dozens of international and domestic flights disrupted
Monitoring data compiled up to late on September 5 and cited in several Indonesian news reports show that at least 33 flights at Soekarno-Hatta were affected by the ash-related shutdown. These included a mix of international and domestic services, with impacts ranging from cancellations and delays to schedule changes and diversions.
Published coverage indicates that 16 international flights were cancelled outright, while seven were delayed and five rescheduled to alternative time slots or routings. Long-haul and regional routes to and from Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul Incheon, Doha, Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur were among those reported as disrupted as carriers adjusted operations to avoid contaminated airspace.
On domestic routes, reports describe at least four cancellations and one diversion, particularly on services linking Jakarta with Lampung, Denpasar and Surabaya. Some operators redirected aircraft or repositioned flights to avoid the most affected air corridors while the NOTAM remained in effect.
Although the closure window lasted only a few hours, the timing in the early morning departure and arrival banks amplified the operational knock-on effects, leaving some travelers facing missed connections and extended rebooking queues as schedules were rebalanced.
Airlines activate contingency plans and flexible policies
A number of airlines serving Jakarta introduced flexible ticketing measures in response to the Anak Krakatau ash event. According to a travel advisory published by Cathay Pacific, volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau leading to ash affecting Soekarno-Hatta operations prompted the carrier to waive rebooking, rerouting and refund charges for eligible Jakarta flights with travel dates in early September.
Low-cost and full-service airlines in the region also adjusted their Jakarta schedules. A statement released via Capital A’s public channels noted that AirAsia cancelled or rescheduled multiple services to and from Jakarta as ash clouds from Anak Krakatau drifted across parts of western Indonesian airspace, and that operational changes were being applied to other routes whose flight paths could intersect the affected area.
Travel industry associations in Indonesia urged their members to check the status of group and pilgrimage flights transiting Soekarno-Hatta on September 6. Public notices from umrah and hajj operators highlighted the risk of last-minute time changes, cancellations or diversions, and encouraged close coordination with airlines as the situation evolved.
Despite the disruption, aviation safety guidance emphasizes that routing aircraft away from volcanic ash is a standard precaution. Historical incidents involving ash ingestion have shown that even thin, invisible ash layers can pose serious risks to jet engines and aircraft systems, leading airlines and air navigation providers to err on the side of caution when ash is detected near a major hub.
From normal operations to rapid closure in 24 hours
In the 24 hours leading up to the shutdown, messaging around flight conditions in Jakarta appeared to shift as Anak Krakatau’s activity evolved and ash drift patterns changed. On Saturday, September 5, multiple Indonesian outlets reported that while the volcano had erupted, regular paper tests at Soekarno-Hatta had not yet detected ash on the airfield, and that flight operations remained normal.
By early Sunday, however, updated monitoring and field tests indicated that ash had reached the airport environment. Reports state that paper tests conducted between 00:35 and 01:05 local time on September 6 showed positive indications of ashfall at Soekarno-Hatta, triggering the subsequent NOTAM and temporary suspension of operations.
Specialist aviation notices known as ASHTAMs, issued when volcanic ash is present or forecast near air routes, tracked the movement of ash clouds in relation to key airports around Jakarta, including Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma and Pondok Cabe. While previous advisories had placed the main ash concentrations some tens of kilometers from these facilities, the overnight shift brought the plume close enough to warrant direct operational restrictions at the primary international hub.
The rapid transition from normal operations to closure illustrates how quickly conditions around an active volcano can change, and why airlines and airport operators in Indonesia’s densely trafficked airspace rely on continuous updates from meteorological and volcanological services.
What travelers with Jakarta flights should do now
With Soekarno-Hatta reopening after the early-morning suspension, most carriers are working through a backlog of passengers whose journeys were disrupted by the Anak Krakatau ash event. Travelers scheduled to fly to, from or through Jakarta over the coming days are being advised in public travel alerts to monitor airline apps and websites for the latest status information.
International airlines including Cathay Pacific and AirAsia have published guidance on flexible ticketing options for affected dates, allowing rebooking without additional charges in many cases. Passengers who booked through travel agents or tour operators may be able to arrange changes via their intermediaries, particularly for complex itineraries such as long-haul connections or religious tour packages.
Industry advisories suggest that travelers allow extra time at the airport and be prepared for possible gate changes or further schedule adjustments if ash conditions fluctuate. While Jakarta’s main hub is working to restore normal operations, the broader airspace picture around the Sunda Strait remains under observation, and further NOTAMs or ASHTAMs are possible if Anak Krakatau’s activity intensifies again.
Given Indonesia’s location along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, volcanic disruptions are a recurring feature of regional aviation. The latest interruption at Soekarno-Hatta underscores the value of flexible ticket policies, comprehensive travel insurance and close attention to official flight information channels for anyone planning to transit Jakarta during periods of heightened volcanic activity.
Antara News report on Soekarno-Hatta closure
Merdeka coverage of Anak Krakatau ash impacts