Jakarta Airport Extends Closure After Volcano Eruption
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- Jakarta’s main airport and three others delayed reopening after volcanic ash disrupted air travel across Indonesia.
- Eight airports halted operations over the weekend, affecting more than 270,000 passengers and disrupting thousands of flights.
- Indonesia’s geology agency warned that the eruption threat remained high because of possible heavy ashfall, incandescent rocks and lava flows.
More than 270,000 passengers were stranded after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau disrupted flights across Indonesia, forcing Jakarta’s main airport and three others to delay reopening on Monday.
These figures are the cumulative operational impact since 5 September 2026 and cover flights that have been canceled, delayed, or diverted.
The volcano, about 150 kilometers from the capital, erupted on Saturday, sending lava into the air and producing a plume of ash. Eight airports suspended operations over the weekend after ash entered their airspace, while more than 240 domestic and international flights had been canceled or delayed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport alone by Monday morning.
Nearly 30,000 passengers were affected at Jakarta’s main airport. Airport operator Angkasa Pura said at least four airports, including Soekarno-Hatta, would remain closed until 6 p.m. Halim Perdanakusuma, which handles civil and military flights, also remained closed. A small airport in southern Sumatra resumed operations at 9 a.m.
We don't have any news from the airline. We don't know if we stay another day in Jakarta or find another flight.
The disruption left travelers uncertain about when they could continue their journeys. Italian tourist Michel Miegge said his flight home had been canceled just before he was due to return to work. “We don't have any news from the airline. We don't know if we stay another day in Jakarta or find another flight,” he told AFP. French painter Carol Odile, who had planned to visit Komodo dragons in Flores with friends, said the group was disappointed but still hoped to leave soon.
We are disappointed, but our group is optimistic, so we hope we can go to Flores Island very soon.
Airport spokesman Yudhistiawan said officials were focused on meeting passengers’ needs during the temporary closures. Indonesia’s geology agency warned that the eruption threat remained high, citing the risk of incandescent rocks and heavy ashfall, as well as lava flows if the eruption resumed and continued.
The threat from an eruption comes from the ejection of incandescent rocks accompanied by heavy ashfall. Another potential hazard arises from lava flows if the eruption resumes and continues.
Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.