Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau diverts four flights to Kertajati Airport

Four Garuda Indonesia flights had landed at Kertajati Airport in West Java by Monday after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau disrupted operations at airports in and around Banten province.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said Kertajati was one of several alternative airports prepared in case ash forced more facilities to close. He said Garuda had already redirected flights there and planned to use the airport for services from Jeddah and Amsterdam.

Other alternative airports include Yogyakarta International Airport, Juanda Airport in East Java, and Adi Soemarmo and Jenderal Ahmad Yani airports in Central Java. Singapore Airlines also planned to change aircraft on one service, replacing a Boeing 737-800 with an Airbus A350 that can carry more passengers.

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At present, and since yesterday, Garuda Indonesia has already been landing at Kertajati Airport.

“People flying from Singapore can return through Surabaya,” Dudy said, adding that Singapore Airlines would also process flights to Yogyakarta as an alternative airport. He urged airlines, especially international carriers, to use larger aircraft and the designated alternative airports so passengers stranded overseas could return to Indonesia.

Tests at Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra, showed no volcanic ash exposure, Dudy said. The airport therefore reopened and resumed normal operations. Seven other airports remained closed: Soekarno-Hatta in Banten, Radin Inten II in Lampung, Budiarto in Banten, Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Pondok Cabe in Banten, Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas in Lampung, and Husein Sastranegara in West Java.

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People flying from Singapore can return through Surabaya.