Airport closure after Krakatau eruption threatens travel for 10 national Quran competition delegations

The temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta Airport has put the travel plans of 10 delegations to Indonesia’s national Quran recitation competition at risk. The disruption follows the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, which affected the airport with volcanic ash.

Agung Pramono, acting head of Central Java’s transportation agency, said the delegations potentially affected include North Maluku, Central Papua, Lampung, Riau, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, Bangka Belitung, Maluku and Aceh. Some were due to transit at Soekarno-Hatta before continuing to Semarang. For others, the airport is the final air destination before they travel onward by land.

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If Soekarno-Hatta Airport is still showing a positive paper test or there is still volcanic ash around the airport, the airport will automatically close.

The 31st MTQ Nasional is scheduled to take place in Semarang from Sept. 11 to 20, 2026. Agung said the travel situation would need to be coordinated with all participating delegations as the airport’s operating status became clearer.

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If Soekarno-Hatta Airport is not operating, flights to Semarang cannot take place.

“If Soekarno-Hatta Airport is still showing a positive paper test or there is still volcanic ash around the airport, the airport will automatically close,” Agung told reporters at the Central Java provincial government offices. “If Soekarno-Hatta Airport is not operating, flights to Semarang cannot take place.”

He said officials were ready to support ground transportation if flights remained disrupted. Options could include rescheduling or changing the mode of travel, with assistance from transportation authorities to arrange routes by road, train or bus.

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If Soekarno-Hatta Airport does not operate, they will have to reschedule, repeat the schedule or change the mode of transport.