TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed services at Jakarta’s primary airport and several regional hubs on Tuesday after ash from Anak Krakatau temporarily halted flights. The volcanic activity impacted nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 passengers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport recommenced operations following assessments indicating that ash levels had diminished. Monitoring teams recorded three smaller eruptions on Tuesday morning, with the volcano still classified at Level III, Indonesia’s second-highest alert level.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports reopened shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport resumed operations a little over two hours later. Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had reopened the previous day, Monday. However, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung remained under assessment. Authorities also mandated safety inspections for aircraft exposed to the prolonged ash dispersion before they could return to service.
The closures were triggered when Anak Krakatau released ash into the airspace over Jakarta and neighboring regions. During the disruption, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines adjusted their schedules for domestic and international flights as ash spread across major routes. Volcanic ash is highly dangerous for aircraft engines and can impair visibility. Aviation authorities imposed flight restrictions in areas where ash was detected, resulting in widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions within the country’s air network.
Airports resume operations after extensive disruption
Late Friday, Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The eruption began at 11:07 p.m. and persisted until shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring indicated further Strombolian eruptions after the continuous phase concluded, with ash plumes reaching nearly 50,000 feet in some regions. The high-altitude ash was dispersed across parts of western Indonesia, prompting authorities to restrict airspace access over affected zones.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano. Officials advised residents affected by ash to limit outdoor activities and wear masks. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were urged to rely solely on official information, with warnings issued against circulating unverified tsunami reports. Despite the end of the eruptive episode, ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions around the island continued to be monitored by instruments.
Passenger numbers affected surpass 340,000
As flights gradually resumed on Tuesday, airport operators addressed the aftermath of the shutdown. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 grounded aircraft required thorough inspections before returning to service. Flight crews received updates on restricted airspace and areas still affected by volcanic ash. Authorities continued assessing conditions at impacted airports to restore normal traffic flow. This disruption ranks among the most significant operational impacts caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity during this eruptive cycle.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau is part of the volcanic system formed by the historic Krakatau eruptions. Its activity has increased throughout 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. A major collapse during a December 2018 eruption triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coasts. Indonesia is home to more than 100 active volcanoes, situated along major tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where eruptions and earthquakes are frequent occurrences.