Dense wildfire smoke forces Melalan Airport in East Kalimantan to halt all operations

Melalan Airport in West Kutai has stopped all operations as thick wildfire smoke pushed visibility below one kilometer. The closure covers both scheduled flights and charter activity from Sept. 1 to 5.

Bernard Repelita Purba, head of the Melalan airport operating unit, said the decision followed a strict safety-first approach. Airlines Wings Air and Smart Aviation, which serve pioneer routes, have announced cancellations through the following week if rain does not fall.

The smoke also grounded a private helicopter operated by PT Bayan. Airport officials said severely limited visibility creates particular risks during approach and landing, making continued operations unsafe.

Under guidance from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, flights must be delayed, diverted or canceled when visibility falls below the required minimum. In normal conditions, Melalan serves about 60 passengers a day, with occupancy above 80 percent and monthly traffic of roughly 1,800 passengers.

The disruption extends beyond West Kutai. Muara Teweh Airport, another Class 3 airport, has reportedly been closed for more than a week. Larger airports in East Kalimantan, including those in Balikpapan, Samarinda and Berau, continue to operate normally. Melalan will reopen only when all safety requirements have been fully met.

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We took this step purely for flight safety. Airlines such as Wings Air and Smart Aviation, which serve pioneer routes, have announced cancellations through next week if rain does not arrive.