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An eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano has disrupted air travel across one of Asia’s busiest aviation markets, with ash clouds forcing the closure of eight airports, canceling more than 1,500 flights and leaving around 170,000 passengers stranded across the country.
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Airports Closed as Ash Clouds Sweep Western Indonesia
The disruption began on Sunday, September 6, 2026, after Anak Krakatau sent towering plumes of ash into the sky above the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Ash clouds drifted hundreds of kilometers over parts of Jakarta, Banten and West Java, prompting aviation authorities to halt traffic in affected airspace.
Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Indonesia’s main international gateway and one of Southeast Asia’s largest hubs, was among the first to suspend operations. Flight movements there were gradually reduced before services were fully halted as ash readings intensified. Reports indicate that additional airports, including Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta and Radin Inten II in Lampung, later followed as the ash cloud expanded over western Indonesia.
By Sunday evening, publicly available figures showed that a total of eight airports had been ordered to suspend flight operations. Airspace restrictions were put in place over large sections of western Java and southern Sumatra as meteorological and volcanic monitoring centers tracked ash at cruising altitudes used by commercial jets.
Aviation regulators and airport operators cited safety protocols related to volcanic ash, which can damage aircraft engines and critical systems, as the main reason for the widespread suspensions. The shutdowns were framed as temporary and subject to continuous review as wind patterns and ash concentrations evolve.
170,000 Passengers Affected as 1,558 Flights Canceled
Travel impact escalated quickly over the course of the day. According to aggregated data from multiple news outlets, more than 1,500 flights were canceled across the eight affected airports, with figures converging around 1,558 canceled services and roughly 170,000 passengers unable to travel as scheduled.
Soekarno Hatta alone accounted for more than 900 of those cancellations, reflecting its role as Indonesia’s primary domestic and international hub. Other airports recorded a smaller but still significant number of suspended departures and arrivals, including services linking Jakarta with regional centers such as Bali, Medan and Surabaya.
Passenger photos and video shared via news organizations showed crowded departure halls, long queues at airline service desks and travelers resting on terminal floors as they awaited updates. Published coverage described travelers rebooking on later flights where possible, while others attempted to reroute through unaffected airports or delay trips altogether.
Transport officials quoted in media reports cautioned that the numbers of affected passengers could continue to rise as airlines reshuffle aircraft and crews. Even after airports reopen, carriers are expected to face a backlog of displaced travelers and limited spare capacity on popular domestic routes.
Continuing Volcanic Activity Raises Uncertainty for Schedules
Anak Krakatau, sometimes written as Anak Krakatoa, erupted at least twice on Sunday, with Indonesia’s volcanology agency and international ash advisory centers estimating plume heights up to around 6,000 meters over Java and significantly higher on the Sumatra side. Monitoring agencies emphasized that the volcano has been intermittently active for years, and that renewed activity is not unexpected.
Seismologists quoted in earlier assessments of the volcano’s behavior have noted that repeated eruptions indicate an ongoing supply of magma and volcanic gases beneath the crater. While current activity is well below the scale of historic Krakatoa events, forecasting the precise evolution of the eruption remains difficult, leaving aviation planners to work with short term ash and wind projections.
This uncertainty is central to the disruption facing travelers. Airlines and airports require clear information on ash location and density before resuming full operations, and even small shifts in wind direction can move hazardous ash into or out of key flight corridors. As a result, reopening decisions are often made in stages, with carefully controlled test flights preceding a broader resumption of scheduled services.
Published statements from Indonesia’s civil aviation authorities indicate that airport closures are being reviewed on rolling time frames, sometimes just a few hours at a time. This approach helps minimize risk but complicates planning for travelers, many of whom receive confirmation of a cancellation or new departure slot only shortly before they are due to fly.
Regional Ripple Effects Across Southeast Asia
The shutdown at Jakarta’s main hub has also had a knock on impact on flights elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Soekarno Hatta serves as a major transit point for routes linking Australia and the wider Asia Pacific region, and its closure created bottlenecks along key corridors.
Regional media and traveler reports describe delays and cancellations on services connecting Jakarta with hubs such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, with some flights grounded because aircraft or crews were unable to position through Indonesia as planned. In some cases, airlines diverted traffic to alternative routings to avoid ash affected airspace, increasing flying times and placing additional strain on already busy neighboring airports.
Past volcanic events in Indonesia and around the world have demonstrated that such disruptions can linger even after the immediate hazard subsides. Aircraft and crews are often out of position, maintenance schedules may be disrupted and customer rebookings can take several days to clear. Aviation analysts quoted in coverage of the current situation suggest that travelers using Indonesian routes over the next several days should expect residual delays, especially on heavily trafficked domestic links.
Travel industry observers are comparing the unfolding situation with previous episodes in the region and beyond, noting that while the number of affected passengers is far lower than major global shutdowns in the past, Indonesia’s geography and reliance on air travel between its many islands make even short term interruptions particularly disruptive.
Advice for Affected and Future Travelers
For travelers currently stranded, the most consistent guidance in public travel advisories is to remain in regular contact with airlines through official apps, websites and customer service channels. Many carriers are offering fee free rebooking on affected routes, though availability is constrained by high demand and limited spare capacity on alternative flights.
Airport announcements and online notice boards in Indonesia are being used to flag rolling updates on reopening times at the eight closed facilities. Travelers transiting through Jakarta and other Indonesian hubs are encouraged to verify whether their flights are operating before heading to the airport, as conditions can change quickly in response to new volcanic ash assessments.
Prospective visitors to Indonesia over the coming days are being urged by travel advisors and tourism information services to build flexibility into their itineraries. Booking fully refundable or changeable air tickets, allowing extra time for connections and monitoring official aviation notices can help reduce the impact of any further ash related disruption.
For those already in Indonesia whose plans are affected, domestic tourism boards highlight that many popular destinations and regional airports outside the ash affected zones remain open and operating normally. However, travelers are still encouraged to stay informed through trusted news outlets and official aviation updates while Anak Krakatau remains active.
ITV News coverage of Anak Krakatau flight disruptions
Al Jazeera report on Indonesian airport closures