TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia has resumed operations at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional facilities after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau temporarily halted air travel. This volcanic activity impacted nearly 3,000 flights and affected over 340,000 passengers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport reopened once authorities confirmed the ash levels had decreased. Monitoring teams observed three smaller eruptions early Tuesday morning. Anak Krakatau’s alert level remains at Level III, which is the second-highest warning level issued in Indonesia.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports reopened shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport resumed operations a little over two hours later. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already reopened on Monday. However, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung are still undergoing further assessments. Authorities also mandated safety inspections for aircraft affected by the extended disruption before they could return to service.
The temporary closures were triggered when Anak Krakatau expelled ash into the airspace over Jakarta and neighboring regions. During this period, eight airports suspended their operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines responded by adjusting both domestic and international flight schedules as ash clouds spread across major routes. Volcanic ash presents serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, prompting aviation authorities to restrict flights in areas where ash was detected. These measures resulted in widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions across the national air transport network.
Major airports recommence services after extensive disruption
Anak Krakatau entered an extended eruptive phase late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The eruption persisted from 11:07 p.m. until shortly after midnight Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring subsequently recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main activity subsided. In earlier phases, ash plumes rose to heights of nearly 50,000 feet in some regions. This high-altitude ash dispersed across parts of western Indonesia, leading aviation authorities to restrict access to the affected airspace.
The Geological Agency kept Anak Krakatau at Level III and established a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano. Officials advised residents affected by ash to minimize outdoor activities or wear masks. They also urged coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely solely on official updates and warned against circulating unverified tsunami claims. Monitoring continued after the eruptive episode, with instruments detecting ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions around the volcanic island.
Number of affected passengers exceeds 340,000
As flights gradually resumed on Tuesday, airport operators worked through the impact of the shutdown. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft that had been grounded during the closure underwent inspections. Flight crews received updated information regarding restricted airspace and areas where volcanic ash remained a concern. Officials persisted in assessing conditions around affected airports before allowing normal operations to restart. The disruption caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity is considered among the most significant operational challenges during this eruptive period.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau emerged from the volcanic system formed by the historic Krakatau eruptions. Its activity has increased notably during 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. A major collapse during an eruption in December 2018 triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia, home to over 100 active volcanoes, lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic boundary known for frequent eruptions and earthquakes.