TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau temporarily halted air travel. The ash cloud affected nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 travelers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed operations once authorities confirmed the ash levels had decreased. Monitoring teams observed three smaller eruptions early Tuesday morning. The volcano remained at Level III, which is the second-highest alert level 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 their services 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 still needed further evaluation before reopening. Officials also mandated safety inspections for aircraft that were grounded during the disruption before they could resume operations.
The closure was triggered after Anak Krakatau expelled ash into the airspace covering Jakarta and surrounding areas. During this period, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines responded by adjusting both domestic and international flight schedules as ash spread over key flight corridors. Volcanic ash presents a serious hazard to aircraft engines and can impair visibility. As a result, aviation authorities imposed restrictions on flights operating in areas where ash was detected. The closures resulted in widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions across the country’s aviation network.
Airports resume services after significant interruption
Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase late Friday in the Sunda Strait situated between Java and Sumatra. Continuous volcanic activity started at 11:07 p.m. and concluded shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Later monitoring recorded additional Strombolian eruptions following the end of the continuous phase. Earlier ash plumes reached heights of nearly 50,000 feet in some regions. The high-altitude ash dispersed across parts of western Indonesia, prompting authorities to restrict access to the affected airspace.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active center. Officials advised those impacted by ash to limit outdoor activities or to wear masks. Additionally, authorities urged coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely solely on official sources for information. Residents were also cautioned against spreading unverified tsunami reports. Monitoring efforts continued after the eruptive episode ended, with instruments recording ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions around the volcanic island.
Passenger numbers exceed 340,000 due to disruptions
As flights gradually resumed on Tuesday, airport operators worked through the aftermath of the shutdown. At Soekarno-Hatta, inspections were carried out on 178 aircraft that had remained grounded during the closure. Flight crews received updated information regarding restricted airspace and areas still affected by volcanic ash. Authorities continued checking conditions at affected airports before restoring full operational capacity. This disruption marked one of the most significant operational impacts caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity during its current eruptive phase.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau formed within the volcanic system created by the historic Krakatau eruptions. The volcano has shown increased activity throughout 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. A major collapse during an eruption in December 2018 generated a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia hosts more than 100 active volcanoes and lies along key tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.