TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional hubs on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau temporarily halted flights. The ash cloud impacted nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 travelers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed operations once officials confirmed that ash conditions had eased. Monitoring teams observed three smaller eruptions during Tuesday morning. The volcano remained classified at Level III, which is the second-highest alert 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 restarted operations just over two hours later. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already reopened on Monday. Authorities are still assessing Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung. Additionally, officials mandated safety inspections for aircraft affected by the prolonged disruption before returning to service.
The closure was triggered by Anak Krakatau ejecting ash into the airspace over Jakarta and nearby regions. During this period, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines responded by adjusting both domestic and international schedules as ash spread across key flight corridors. Volcanic ash poses serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, leading aviation authorities to restrict flights in zones where ash monitoring detected activity. The resulting closures caused widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions across the country’s air network.
Airports Restart Operations Following Disruptive Event
Late Friday, Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Continuous eruptions began at 11:07 p.m. and lasted until shortly after midnight on Sunday, totaling roughly 25 hours. Monitoring later recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase concluded. Earlier, ash plumes reached nearly 50,000 feet in some regions. These high-altitude ash clouds dispersed across parts of western Indonesia, prompting authorities to restrict airspace access in affected areas.
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 minimize outdoor activities or wear masks. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were urged to consult official sources and avoid circulating unverified tsunami claims. Ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions continued to be recorded after the eruption’s main phase ended, with instruments detecting persistent volcanic tremors and eruptions on and around the island.
Passenger Numbers Exceed 340,000 Amid Disruption
As flight operations gradually resumed on Tuesday, airport authorities addressed the backlog caused by the shutdown. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 grounded aircraft underwent safety inspections. Flight crews received updated information regarding restricted airspaces and lingering ash hazards. Officials continued evaluating conditions at affected airports to ensure safe traffic resumption. The aviation disturbances represent one of the most significant operational impacts from Anak Krakatau’s recent activity during this eruptive episode.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau is part of the volcanic system formed during the historic Krakatau eruptions. Its activity has increased during 2026, including several eruptions recorded since July. A major collapse during an eruption in December 2018 caused a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia is home to over 100 active volcanoes, situated along tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where eruptions and earthquakes occur frequently.