TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia has restored operations at Jakarta’s primary airport and several regional hubs following a disruption caused by volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau. The ash cloud affected nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 travelers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed services after officials confirmed that ash levels had decreased. Monitoring teams observed three smaller eruptions on Tuesday morning. The volcano remains at Level III, which is the second-highest alert level in Indonesia.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, 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. Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already reopened on Monday. Meanwhile, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung continued to await further evaluations. Authorities also mandated safety inspections for aircraft exposed to the prolonged ash fallout before they could return to service.
The closure was triggered when Anak Krakatau expelled ash into the airspace over Jakarta and surrounding regions. During the disruption, eight airports halted operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines adjusted both domestic and international schedules as ash spread across key flight corridors. Volcanic ash presents a significant hazard to aircraft engines and can impair visibility. Aviation officials imposed restrictions on flights departing from areas where ash was detected. The resulting closures led to widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions within the national network.
Airports return to service after significant disturbance
Anak Krakatau entered a continuous eruptive phase late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The sustained activity began at 11:07 p.m. and ceased shortly after midnight Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Subsequent monitoring recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase ended. Ash plumes earlier reached nearly 50,000 feet in certain regions, spreading high-altitude ash across parts of western Indonesia and prompting authorities to restrict access to the affected airspace.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and kept a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active summit. Officials advised residents impacted by ash to minimize outdoor activity or wear masks. They also urged coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely solely on official information and warned residents against circulating unverified tsunami reports. Monitoring persisted after the eruptive episode concluded, with instruments detecting ongoing seismic activity and further eruptions around the volcanic island.
Passenger numbers exceed 340,000 amid ongoing recovery efforts
Airports managed the aftermath of the shutdown as flights gradually resumed on Tuesday. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft that had been grounded during the closure were subject to inspections. Flight crews received updated guidance regarding restricted airspace and zones with residual ash. Officials continued assessing conditions at affected airports before restoring full operational capacity. The disruption caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity represents one of the most substantial operational impacts during this eruptive phase.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau emerged from the volcanic system formed by the historic Krakatau eruptions. The volcano has shown heightened activity throughout 2026, including eruptions recorded since July. A significant collapse during an eruption in December 2018 triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coasts. Indonesia hosts over 100 active volcanoes and sits along major tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where eruptions and earthquakes are frequent occurrences.