TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday following disruptions caused by volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau. The incident resulted in delays, cancellations, or diversions for over 340,000 travelers, impacting nearly 3,000 flights across the nation. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after winds cleared ash from critical aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitors recording three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports resumed their operations at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport followed suit at 2:25 a.m. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra reopened on Monday morning. In the latest official update, two airports in Lampung—Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas—are still awaiting further assessment. Airport officials mandated safety inspections for aircraft before normal flight operations could recommence.
The closures came after Anak Krakatau dispersed volcanic ash into airspace over Jakarta and surrounding regions. During the disruption, eight airports halted operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international gateway at Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses serious hazards such as engine damage and reduced visibility, which are critical concerns for aviation safety. Consequently, authorities restricted aircraft from entering airspace where ash was detected through monitoring. The resulting disruptions impacted both domestic and international flight schedules as airlines adjusted departure, arrival, and aircraft movements across affected airports.
Key airports reopen following ash dispersal
The recent active phase of Anak Krakatau began late Friday in the Sunda Strait situated between Java and Sumatra. A continuous eruptive event started at 11:07 p.m. Friday and concluded shortly after midnight Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring systems recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main eruptive episode ceased. Earlier ash clouds reached altitudes nearing 50,000 feet in some regions, dispersing volcanic debris across parts of western Indonesia and disrupting major flight corridors.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert level. A three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active core remained in effect. Officials advised residents affected by volcanic ash to limit outdoor activities or to wear masks. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were instructed to follow official guidance and to dismiss unverified tsunami claims. The volcano’s monitoring network continued recording seismic and eruptive activity even after the prolonged eruption ended over the weekend.
Air travel disruptions impact hundreds of thousands
Tuesday’s trio of smaller eruptions occurred as airports worked to recover from the multi-day shutdown. Authorities mandated inspections for aircraft that remained grounded during the closure. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 aircraft underwent airworthiness checks before resuming full operations. Pilots and airline crews also received guidance on restricted airspace contaminated with volcanic ash. These measures coincided with the reopening of airports after officials confirmed improved conditions for safe flight operations.
Anak Krakatau, an active volcano situated in the Sunda Strait, emerged from the Krakatau volcanic complex. Its activity has intensified during 2026, including eruptions recorded since July. The volcano experienced a major collapse during an eruption in December 2018 that triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia hosts over 100 active volcanoes due to its location along major tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent occurrences.