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Thousands of air passengers in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia are facing disruption after ash from the eruption of Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and other airports across western Indonesia.
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Jakarta’s Main Airport Hit by Volcanic Ash Cloud
Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, one of Southeast Asia’s busiest hubs, temporarily suspended flight operations on Sunday 6 September after ash from the ongoing eruption of Anak Krakatau drifted across its airspace. Publicly available information from airport operators and aviation authorities indicates that hundreds of flights were affected as the ash cloud moved over the capital region, reducing visibility and creating hazardous conditions for jet engines.
Data from Indonesia’s transport ministry and local airport operator InJourney Airports shows that at least 764 scheduled flights at Soekarno-Hatta were disrupted by the closure period and subsequent rolling cancellations, affecting tens of thousands of passengers traveling domestically and internationally through Jakarta. ([en.antaranews.com](https://en.antaranews.com/news/430164/mount-anak-krakatau-eruption-impacts-764-flights-at-soekarno-hatta?utm_source=openai))
Reports from regional media and aviation trackers describe departure boards filled with cancellations and delays, with knock-on effects spreading to airports in Sumatra, Banten, parts of West Java and onward hubs in Malaysia and Singapore as airlines adjusted schedules around the ash plume. ([channelnewsasia.com](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/jakarta-indonesia-soekarno-hatta-airport-suspend-flight-volcano-6365251?utm_source=openai))
Airlines Cancel and Reshuffle Services Across the Region
Low-cost and full-service carriers across Asia moved quickly to adjust operations as the ash cloud grew. Public updates from AirAsia show that all of the airline’s flights to and from Jakarta were cancelled or rescheduled following the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta, with customers advised to monitor email and app notifications for rebooking options and travel credits. ([newsroom-airasia.squarespace.com](https://newsroom-airasia.squarespace.com/news/airasia-flights-impacted-by-the-mount-anak-krakatau-volcanic-eruption?utm_source=openai))
Malaysia Airports Holdings reported a rising number of cancellations on routes into Jakarta over two consecutive days. Coverage from Malaysian news agency Bernama notes that 31 Jakarta-bound flights from airports across Malaysia were cancelled on Sunday, followed by at least 41 flights cancelled on Monday as ash-related disruptions continued and airlines worked through the backlog of stranded passengers. ([bernama.com](https://www.bernama.com/tv/news.php?id=2603677&utm_source=openai))
Indonesian carrier Lion Group also reported extensive schedule changes. A company advisory dated Monday 7 September stated that multiple flights to and from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma airports were cancelled until at least 18:00 local time, citing the ongoing impact of Anak Krakatau’s eruption on airspace conditions around the capital. ([lionair.co.id](https://www.lionair.co.id/en/about-us/newsroom/2026/09/07/safety-and-security-remain-the-highest-priorityseveral-lion-group-flights-cancelled-until-6-00-p.m.-wib-due-to-the-impact-of-the-anak-krakatau-eruption-updated-at-11-00-a.m.-wib-september-7-2026?utm_source=openai))
Government Extends Airport Closures as Monitoring Continues
Indonesia’s transport authorities extended the closure or restricted operations of several airports after monitoring showed that volcanic ash continued to drift across key flight corridors. An update from the transportation ministry indicates that eight airports affected by Anak Krakatau’s ash were ordered to remain closed or partially closed, with reopening tied to improved safety assessments. ([kemenhub.go.id](https://www.kemenhub.go.id/index.php/post/read/penutupan-delapan-bandara-imbas-erupsi-gunung-anak-krakatau-diperpanjang%2C-menhub-dudy--keselamatan-jadi-prioritas-utama?utm_source=openai))
Notices to airmen (NOTAMs) issued for Soekarno-Hatta show that the airport’s airspace was initially closed on Sunday afternoon between approximately 13:23 and 17:30 local time due to volcanic ash. Subsequent advisories and ministry statements describe a phased approach to reopening, with authorities emphasizing that airspace will only be fully restored once ash concentrations fall below thresholds set in international aviation guidelines. ([dephub.go.id](https://dephub.go.id/index.php/post/read/menhub-dudy--keselamatan-utama%2C-dampak-erupsi-gunung-anak-krakatau-terus-dimonitor?utm_source=openai))
Other airports in western Indonesia, including facilities in Lampung and parts of South Sumatra and Banten, have also been affected by temporary closures or operational restrictions as ash fell over a wide area. Local media and satellite-based analyses shared by observers indicate that the ash cloud reached several thousand meters in altitude, with plumes reported up to around 15,000 meters on the Sumatra side of the volcano.
Scale of Disruption for Travelers and Airlines
Regional and international coverage suggests that the eruption has stranded thousands of travelers, particularly those transiting through Jakarta on long-haul connections. Aviation data compiled by Indonesia’s airport operator and reported by domestic news agencies point to nearly 3,000 flights disrupted nationwide since the eruption phase intensified, with Soekarno-Hatta bearing the largest share of cancellations and diversions. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/12c3cb67859b2c51054b378d60148d33?utm_source=openai))
Passengers heading to or from Jakarta in the coming days are being advised, through airline notices and government information channels, to check the status of their flights before traveling to the airport. Some airlines are waiving change fees, offering travel credits or allowing route changes where seats are available, but capacity constraints and crew scheduling challenges are expected to prolong disruptions even as ash levels begin to subside.
Travel industry analysts quoted in regional media note that Jakarta serves as a critical hub for domestic flights to destinations across the Indonesian archipelago as well as for international services linking Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Prolonged ash-related restrictions at Soekarno-Hatta therefore risk a cascading impact on tourism flows, business travel and cargo movements across the wider region.
What Travelers Should Know Right Now
For visitors currently in Indonesia or planning to pass through Jakarta, publicly available advisories emphasize the importance of staying closely informed via airline channels and official notices. Many carriers are updating travelers through mobile apps and social media, while airport operators publish real-time information on arrivals and departures as airspace conditions evolve. ([newsroom-airasia.squarespace.com](https://newsroom-airasia.squarespace.com/news/airasia-flights-impacted-by-the-mount-anak-krakatau-volcanic-eruption?utm_source=openai))
Reports from Indonesia’s transport ministry show that authorities continue to monitor Anak Krakatau’s activity alongside meteorological agencies and aviation stakeholders, with further updates on airport status expected as ash dispersion patterns change. Travelers are encouraged to build extra flexibility into their itineraries, anticipate potential overnight stays, and keep documentation for any disruption-related insurance claims or rebooking requests. ([kemenhub.go.id](https://www.kemenhub.go.id/index.php/post/read/penutupan-delapan-bandara-imbas-erupsi-gunung-anak-krakatau-diperpanjang%2C-menhub-dudy--keselamatan-jadi-prioritas-utama?utm_source=openai))
While Anak Krakatau’s eruption phase has shown signs of easing, volcanic events can remain unpredictable. For the moment, those with flights to or from Jakarta are being urged, in public travel advisories and news coverage, to treat schedules as subject to change at short notice and to prioritize information from airlines and official aviation sources when planning their movements.
Al Jazeera: Anak Krakatau eruption shutters Indonesian airports
ANTARA News: Eruption impacts 764 flights at Soekarno-Hatta
Bernama: Anak Krakatau eruption temporarily closes Jakarta airport
Indonesia Transport Ministry: flights affected by Anak Krakatau ash