Anak Krakatau ash cancels 49 flights at Kualanamu, airport remains operational

Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau forced the cancellation of 49 flights at Kualanamu International Airport on Monday, but the airport itself continued operating normally.

Mohamad Hikmat Hidayat, corporate affairs manager at PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi, said the cancellations were temporary and could change as conditions developed. The affected flights were all domestic return routes linking Kualanamu with Cengkareng, Halim Perdanakusuma and Bandung.

The cancellations followed the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma and Husein Sastranegara airports on Java. Five airlines cancelled flights: Garuda Indonesia, Citilink Indonesia, Lion Air, Batik Air and Pelita Air.

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Based on today’s preliminary data, 49 flights have been cancelled

The previous day, 51 flights had been cancelled, including an international Amsterdam to Cengkareng service that was diverted to Kualanamu. Hikmat said ash spreading over the waters of the Sunda Strait was disrupting flight operations at several airports.

PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi said it was coordinating with AirNav Indonesia, airlines, airport authorities and other stakeholders, with safety, security and passenger service as priorities. The operator urged passengers to check their flight status and schedule with their airline before travelling to the airport because operating conditions and airline policies could change.

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The situation has affected several flights to and from Kualanamu International Airport