The eruption, which began late on Friday, September 4, sent volcanic ash towards Jakarta and surrounding areas and led to the temporary closure of eight airports. According to figures released by Indonesian authorities, the disruption affected 2,961 domestic and international flights and approximately 341,000 passengers.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main international gateway, and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport resumed operations early on September 8. Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung and two airports in Banten also reopened after safety assessments.
Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said the reopening followed assessments of the affected airports and surrounding airspace. Aircraft were required to undergo inspections before returning to service, while flight crews were instructed to comply with restricted-airspace areas established because of volcanic ash.
Other airports affected by the eruption have also progressively resumed operations. Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already returned to normal operations on September 7, while authorities continued to assess conditions at airports in Lampung.
The reopening has not immediately restored airline schedules to normal. The disruption left aircraft and crews out of position and created a backlog of passengers and flights that airlines are now working to clear.
Singapore Airlines, for example, added eight relief flights between Singapore and Jakarta on September 8, subject to available seats, while some services remained retimed or cancelled.
Middle East carriers adjust schedules
Airlines operating between Indonesia and the Middle East have also continued to adjust schedules. Emirates cancelled services between Dubai and Jakarta on September 8, while Etihad Airways reported disruption affecting Jakarta services. The airlines’ schedules have been affected by the Indonesian volcanic ash situation alongside wider operational disruptions in the region.
Fresh volcanic activity remains a factor for aviation operations. Indonesian authorities reported further eruptions from Anak Krakatau on September 8, although volcanic activity had declined compared with previous days. Monitoring showed volcanic ash at substantially lower altitudes than during the peak of the disruption, when ash reached up to approximately 50,000 feet.
Authorities are continuing to monitor wind direction and the movement of volcanic ash before making further decisions on airport operations and airspace restrictions.
Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, has remained at Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert level since July. The volcano is part of the country’s wider volcanic system along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The current disruption follows a period of increased volcanic activity at Anak Krakatau. The volcano also erupted in 2018, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people after part of the volcanic structure collapsed into the sea.
For the aviation sector, Indonesian authorities continue to coordinate with airports, airlines and air navigation agencies as the network recovers from the disruption and as volcanic activity remains under observation.
