TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau caused disruptions to air travel. Over 340,000 travelers experienced delays, cancellations, or diversions amid the incident, which impacted nearly 3,000 flights across the country. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport once winds cleared ash from critical aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitors recording three smaller eruptions during the morning.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports restarted operations at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, while Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport followed at 2:25 a.m. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had reopened on Monday morning. Two airports in Lampung, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas, remained under assessment in the latest official transport update. Before resuming normal operations, aircraft underwent safety inspections as ordered by airport authorities.
The closures started after Anak Krakatau dispersed volcanic ash across airspace serving Jakarta and surrounding areas. During the disruption, eight airports halted operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international gateway at Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, making it a significant aviation hazard. Authorities also restricted aircraft from entering monitored airspace where ash was detected. The disruption affected both domestic and international schedules as airlines adjusted departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements across affected airports.
Major airports reopen as ash clears
Anak Krakatau’s recent prolonged activity began late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, with a continuous eruptive episode starting at 11:07 p.m. and ending shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase concluded. Earlier ash clouds reached altitudes close to 50,000 feet in some regions, dispersing volcanic material 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, with a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active center. Officials advised residents affected by volcanic ash to limit outdoor activity or wear masks. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were instructed to follow official guidance and reject unverified tsunami claims. Monitoring networks continued recording seismic and eruptive activity even after the longer eruptive phase ended over the weekend.
Air travel impact extends to hundreds of thousands
Tuesday’s three smaller eruptions occurred as airports managed the aftermath of the multi-day shutdown. Officials mandated inspections for aircraft that remained grounded during the closure, with 178 aircraft at Soekarno-Hatta requiring airworthiness checks before returning to service. Pilots and crew members received instructions regarding restricted airspace contaminated with volcanic ash. These measures accompanied the reopening of airports once authorities confirmed improved conditions for flight operations.
Anak Krakatau, an active volcanic island in the Sunda Strait that emerged from the Krakatau complex, has shown increased activity in 2026, including eruptions recorded since July. The volcano experienced a significant collapse during an eruption in December 2018, which triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia’s over 100 active volcanoes sit along major tectonic boundaries in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where frequent earthquakes and eruptions are common.