TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia has reopened Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional airfields after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau temporarily halted air traffic. The volcanic activity caused nearly 3,000 flights to be affected, impacting over 340,000 passengers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed its services once authorities confirmed that ash levels had decreased. Monitoring teams recorded three smaller eruptions on Tuesday morning. The volcano maintained a Level III alert, which is the second-highest warning 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 just over two hours later. Additionally, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had reopened on Monday. However, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung were still under review for reopening. Authorities mandated safety inspections for aircraft that had been exposed to the disruption before they could return to service.
The closure was initiated after Anak Krakatau emitted ash into the airspace over Jakarta and surrounding areas. During the disruption, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines responded by adjusting both domestic and international flight schedules as ash spread across major routes. Volcanic ash presents a significant danger to aircraft engines and can impair visibility. As a result, aviation authorities restricted flights from regions where ash levels were monitored. These measures led to widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions across the country’s air network.
Airports Reopen Following Major Disruptions
Anak Krakatau entered a prolonged eruptive phase late Friday in the Sunda Strait, located between Java and Sumatra. The continuous activity started at 11:07 p.m. and concluded shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring later recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase ended. Earlier ash plumes soared to nearly 50,000 feet in some locations, dispersing high-altitude ash across parts of western Indonesia and prompting authorities to limit access to the affected airspace.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and kept a three-kilometer exclusion zone surrounding the volcano. Officials advised residents affected by ash to minimize outdoor activities and wear masks. They also urged coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely solely on official information, warning residents against circulating unverified tsunami claims. Monitoring persisted after the eruptive episode concluded, with instruments recording ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions around the volcanic island.
Passenger Numbers Exceed 340,000 Due to Disruption
Airports managed the aftermath of the shutdown as flights gradually resumed on Tuesday. At Soekarno-Hatta, authorities performed inspections on 178 aircraft that had remained grounded during the closure. Flight crews were provided with updated information regarding restricted airspace and zones where volcanic ash persisted. Officials continued evaluating conditions at affected airports before restoring regular operations. This disruption represented one of the most substantial operational impacts from Anak Krakatau’s activity during the current eruptive period.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau formed within the volcanic system created by the historic Krakatau eruptions. The volcano has displayed increased activity during 2026, including eruptions recorded since July. A significant collapse during an eruption in December 2018 triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia is home to more than 100 active volcanoes, lying along major tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
}*