TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional hubs on Tuesday following a volcanic ash cloud from Anak Krakatau that had caused widespread travel disruptions. The ash cloud impacted nearly 3,000 flights and affected more than 340,000 travelers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed services after authorities confirmed a reduction in ash levels. Monitoring stations recorded three minor eruptions on Tuesday morning, with the volcano remaining at Level III, Indonesia’s second-highest alert status.
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 operations just over two hours later. Additionally, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had been operational since Monday, while Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung remained under assessment. Authorities mandated safety inspections for aircraft exposed to the ash cloud before allowing them to resume flights.
The closures followed Anak Krakatau’s eruption that cast ash into the airspace over Jakarta and surrounding regions. During this period, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines adjusted both domestic and international flight schedules as ash spread over major routes, given the danger volcanic ash poses to aircraft engines and visibility. Flights from monitored areas were restricted, leading to extensive delays, cancellations, and diversions across the country’s air network.
Airports Restart Operations Following Major Disruptions
Late Friday, Anak Krakatau entered a prolonged eruptive phase in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The activity, which began at 11:07 p.m., continued until shortly after midnight Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Subsequent monitoring detected additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase concluded. Ash plumes previously soared nearly 50,000 feet high, dispersing over parts of western Indonesia and prompting authorities to restrict access to affected airspace.
The Geological Agency kept Anak Krakatau at Level III and maintained a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano. Officials advised residents to limit outdoor activities and wear masks if exposed to ash, while coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were instructed to rely solely on official updates. Authorities also cautioned residents against spreading unverified tsunami warnings. Monitoring continued after the eruptive event, with seismic instruments recording ongoing activity and additional eruptions around the island.
Passenger numbers exceed 340,000 amid ongoing disruptions
As flights gradually resumed on Tuesday, airport authorities carried out inspections on aircraft that had been grounded. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 planes were checked before returning to service, and crews received updated instructions regarding restricted airspace and ash-affected zones. Conditions around airports remained under review to ensure safe operations, marking this eruptive episode as one of the most impactful for Anak Krakatau’s activity in recent times.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau emerged within the volcanic system formed by the historic Krakatau eruptions. Its activity has increased during 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. A significant collapse during a December 2018 eruption triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia boasts over 100 active volcanoes, situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent eruptions and earthquakes.