Indonesia opens alternative airports around the clock after ash closes eight airports

Indonesia has opened five alternative airports for 24-hour operations after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced eight airports to close.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the alternative facilities include Kertajati in Majalengka, Ahmad Yani in Semarang, Juanda in Surabaya, Yogyakarta International Airport and Adi Soemarmo in Solo. Airlines can use them for both arrivals and departures while conditions at the affected airports remain unsafe for flight operations.

The closed airports include Soekarno-Hatta in Tangerang, Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta and Radin Inten II in Lampung. Husein Sastranegara in Bandung, Budiarto in Curug, Pondok Cabe in South Tangerang, Taufik Kiemas in West Coast, Lampung, and Atung Bungsu in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra, are also affected. The government scheduled the closures to continue until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. local time.

Airlines will decide whether to use the alternative airports based on operational needs, schedules, fleet readiness and passenger services. The Transportation Ministry and InJourney Airports are arranging ground transport so passengers can move safely from Soekarno-Hatta to the substitute airports.

Train and bus services will carry passengers free of charge to Kertajati, Juanda, Solo, Semarang or Yogyakarta when their flights are diverted. InJourney Airports and the airlines are coordinating the arrangements, while carriers will directly notify passengers about new departure points and schedules.

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I mentioned earlier that we are providing alternatives for airlines to use, since we have opened alternative airports like Kertajati, Semarang, Juanda, YIA (Yogyakarta), and Solo, for 24-hour operations.