TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau disrupted air traffic, which led to delays, cancellations, or diversions for more than 340,000 travelers. The impact was felt across nearly 3,000 flights throughout Indonesia, prompting authorities to reopen Soekarno-Hatta International Airport once winds cleared ash from critical aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitoring stations recording three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, the airports at Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara resumed their services at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport at 2:25 a.m. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already reopened on Monday morning. Two other airports in Lampung, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas, were still awaiting further assessment according to the latest official transportation update. Prior to resuming normal operations, airport authorities mandated safety inspections for aircraft to ensure proper airworthiness.
The shutdowns began after Anak Krakatau expelled volcanic ash across the airspace serving Jakarta and nearby regions, forcing eight airports to cease operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub at Soekarno-Hatta. The presence of volcanic ash poses a significant hazard to aircraft engines and visibility, necessitating restrictions on flights entering monitored airspace where ash was detected. As a result, airlines had to adjust their schedules, affecting departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements both domestically and internationally across the affected airports, leading to widespread disruptions.
Major airports reopen after ash clears
Anak Krakatau’s latest episode of sustained activity began late on Friday in the Sunda Strait situated between Java and Sumatra, with a continuous eruption commencing at 11:07 p.m. that night and ending shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after this continuous phase concluded, and earlier ash clouds had reached altitudes approaching 50,000 feet in some regions, dispersing volcanic material across parts of western Indonesia and disrupting major flight corridors.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, which is Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert status, and kept a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active center. Officials advised residents affected by volcanic ash to limit outdoor activities or wear masks, while coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were instructed to follow official guidance and dismiss unverified tsunami warnings. Seismic and eruptive activity continued to be recorded by the volcano’s monitoring network even after the prolonged eruption ended over the weekend.
Disruption affects hundreds of thousands of travelers
Tuesday’s trio of smaller eruptions occurred as airports managed the aftermath of the multi-day shutdown, with officials requiring aircraft that remained grounded during the closure to undergo safety inspections. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft needed airworthiness checks before resuming full service, and pilots along with crew members received instructions concerning restricted airspace contaminated with volcanic ash. These safety measures coincided with the reopening of airports after authorities deemed that conditions had sufficiently improved for normal flight operations.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau is an active volcanic island that emerged from the Krakatau volcanic complex, with increased activity recorded during 2026, including eruptions since July. The volcano experienced a major collapse during an eruption in December 2018, which triggered a deadly tsunami along adjacent coastlines. Indonesia hosts over 100 active volcanoes due to its position along major tectonic boundaries in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and eruptions are common occurrences.