Singapore Airlines, AirAsia halt Jakarta flights after Anak Krakatau ash

Volcanic ash from Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau has triggered widespread disruption across Southeast Asia’s busiest air corridor, with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia cancelling or rescheduling flights to Jakarta after the eruption forced a temporary shutdown of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on September 6, 2026.

Jakarta’s main airport shuts as ash cloud spreads

Flight operations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were suspended on Sunday as ash from the erupting Mount Anak Krakatau drifted over the capital’s airspace. Published coverage from Indonesian and regional outlets indicates that hundreds of flights were affected after airport authorities halted takeoffs and landings for safety checks and runway inspections.

Reports from Indonesian news agencies describe at least 200 flights disrupted and tens of thousands of passengers impacted during the closure, which began early on September 6. Volcanic ash poses a serious threat to jet engines and aircraft systems, prompting air navigation authorities to impose strict restrictions whenever plumes move into busy flight corridors.

The eruption of Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, intensified in early September following months of elevated activity. Imagery shared by Indonesia’s volcanology agencies and independent observers shows ash columns rising high into the atmosphere and spreading across western Java and surrounding regions.

Airspace advisories indicate that the ash cloud has affected routes not only into Jakarta but also across parts of Sumatra, Java and nearby international corridors, prompting airlines to reroute, delay or cancel services until conditions improve.

Singapore Airlines suspends multiple Singapore–Jakarta services

Singapore Airlines, one of the largest foreign carriers serving Jakarta, announced the cancellation of a series of flights between Singapore and Jakarta on September 6. According to publicly available advisories and regional media coverage, the airline pulled multiple round-trip services after Soekarno-Hatta International Airport suspended operations due to volcanic ash.

The airline’s travel alerts emphasize that the safety of passengers and crew remains the primary consideration, noting that flight paths to and from Jakarta traverse airspace monitored for ash contamination. Services on the high-frequency Singapore–Jakarta route were either cancelled outright or delayed until the operating environment could be reassessed.

Advisories urge passengers booked on affected Jakarta flights to monitor their booking status through the airline’s official digital channels and to ensure contact details are updated for rebooking notifications. Some connecting itineraries through Changi Airport have also been disrupted as aircraft and crew rotations are adjusted to cope with the sudden loss of Jakarta capacity.

Operational planners now face the challenge of restoring one of Southeast Asia’s most heavily trafficked city pairs while remaining responsive to evolving ash forecasts. Any extension of the eruption or renewed airport closures could prolong the disruption to regional connectivity.

AirAsia cancels and reschedules Indonesia and regional flights

Low cost carrier AirAsia has also taken extensive action in response to the Anak Krakatau eruption. Statements published on the airline’s regional newsroom show that a number of AirAsia flights to and from Jakarta have been cancelled or rescheduled, reflecting the combination of airport closure and broader airspace restrictions over western Indonesia.

Notices from AirAsia’s Indonesia operations highlight continued ash emission from the volcano and warn that conditions remain fluid. The carrier reports that all affected guests are being contacted regarding their revised travel options, including changes to departure times or alternative routings where feasible.

Separate guidance from AirAsia’s Malaysia and group-level channels underlines that disruptions are not confined to a single airport, as ash forecasts cover airspace used by services across the Sunda Strait and adjacent regions. The airline is urging travelers bound for Jakarta and other potentially affected destinations to check the latest information on flight status pages before heading to the airport.

While precise passenger numbers have not been fully consolidated, regional wire services report that AirAsia is among several airlines dealing with substantial rebooking volumes as travelers seek to rearrange business trips, holidays and onward international connections.

Thousands of travelers stranded as regional knock-on effects grow

The sudden halt in operations at Jakarta’s main gateway has created ripple effects throughout Southeast Asia’s aviation network. Jakarta functions as a critical hub for domestic Indonesian routes and a major international connection point, so closures and capacity cuts rapidly cascade into missed connections and aircraft imbalances.

Regional media coverage describes crowded terminals and long queues at Soekarno-Hatta as passengers wait for rebooking assistance or updated departure times. Airlines are working inside strict safety constraints, balancing the need to move stranded travelers with the evolving picture of ash dispersion at different flight levels.

Travel industry analysts note that Jakarta’s disruption arrives at a time of already high demand on regional corridors linking Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and major Indonesian cities. With many flights operating near capacity, opportunities to re-accommodate passengers on same-day alternatives are limited, particularly on short notice.

Beyond the immediate cancellations, aircraft and crew displaced by the closure are likely to cause rolling delays even after Jakarta’s runways reopen. Published comments from airport and aviation officials suggest that normal operations may take some time to restore as schedules are re-sequenced and maintenance checks are completed on aircraft that have operated near ash-affected zones.

Outlook for operations and guidance for travelers

Forecasts from Indonesia’s geological and meteorological agencies suggest that Anak Krakatau’s activity could remain elevated in the short term, raising the possibility of further airspace warnings or temporary airport suspensions if ash continues to drift over key routes. Aviation safety protocols require continuous monitoring of ash concentration and plume height before flights can operate normally.

Publicly available guidance from airlines and airport operators recommends that passengers with itineraries involving Jakarta, southern Sumatra or western Java remain flexible and stay alert to rapid schedule changes. Travelers are encouraged to use official airline apps and websites for the latest flight status, rebooking options and policy updates on refunds or travel credits.

Observers note that airlines serving Indonesia have accumulated significant experience managing volcanic ash events, given the country’s location along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. Carriers now rely on updated satellite imagery, ash advisory center reports and on-the-ground observations to adjust routes and altitudes in real time where safe operations are possible.

For now, the speed of recovery on Singapore Airlines and AirAsia routes into Jakarta will depend on how quickly Anak Krakatau’s ash output diminishes and how soon regulators are satisfied that conditions meet established safety thresholds. Until then, Southeast Asia’s busiest aviation markets are likely to experience continued disruption, with Jakarta at the center of the impact.

Sources: Malay Mail coverage of Singapore Airlines cancellations; AirAsia newsroom statement on flights impacted by Anak Krakatau; Bernama report on Soekarno-Hatta airport closure and flight disruptions; Al Jazeera report on Anak Krakatau eruption and halted flights