Flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have been suspended after ash from the ongoing eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau reached the airport, disrupting hundreds of services and affecting more than 22,000 passengers.
The closure, initially due to end at 5.30am local time on Sunday 6 September, was extended first to 9.30am and then to 1.30pm as ash continued to spread across western Indonesia.
Indonesia’s transport ministry said an initial 33 flights had been affected, including international services. The wider disruption later involved 209 flight movements, with passengers facing cancellations, delays, diversions and rescheduled journeys.
Mount Anak Krakatau ash disrupts Jakarta flights
The eruption began late on Friday, with volcanic ash detected around Soekarno-Hatta in the early hours of Sunday. The airport, which serves the Indonesian capital, is about 180km from the volcano.
International routes affected included services to and from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Doha and Amsterdam. Singapore Airlines said it had cancelled 19 flights between Singapore and Jakarta, warning that further services could be affected while conditions remained unsettled.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, identified two ash clouds using satellite imagery. One plume rose to about 20,000ft and moved towards Jakarta, Banten and West Java, while another reached 50,000ft and spread towards Lampung and Bengkulu on Sumatra, as well as the southern Sunda Strait.
BMKG said it had issued repeated aviation warnings as the ash moved through the region. Temporary restrictions were also imposed at several other airports, including Halim Perdanakusuma, Radin Inten II and Budiarto, at different times.
Authorities said the disruption could have knock-on effects for aircraft rotations, fleet availability and terminal capacity as airlines attempt to restore their schedules. Passengers were advised to check directly with their airlines and avoid travelling to the airport unless necessary.
Ashfall has also affected parts of Banten province on Java and Lampung province on Sumatra. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency urged residents to remain calm, wear masks and eye protection, limit outdoor activity, cover water supplies and take care on the roads because ash can reduce visibility.
Several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after ash caused eye irritation among students and residents, while fishermen abandoned trips in the waters near the volcano.
The authorities said there was no imminent tsunami threat. Indonesia’s geological agency has advised residents and visitors to remain at least 3km from Anak Krakatau’s active crater.
