Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau forces Soekarno-Hatta airport to close, affecting 33 flights

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten closed temporarily on Sunday after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau was detected. The closure ran from 1:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. local time under NOTAM A3341/26.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said paper tests conducted between 12:35 a.m. and 1:05 a.m. indicated volcanic ash at the airport. Monitoring data as of 10 p.m. on Sept. 5 showed that 33 flights had been affected.

International services recorded 16 cancellations, seven delays and five rescheduled flights. The affected routes included Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul and Incheon, Doha, Amsterdam, and Kuala Lumpur. Domestic operations recorded four cancellations and one diversion, involving routes to or from Lampung, Denpasar and Surabaya.

Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa said officials were paying particular attention to restoring the flight schedule on Sept. 6 because disruptions could spread through aircraft rotations, fleet availability, later flights and terminal capacity. “Safety remains the top priority in every operational decision,” he said, adding that airlines would continue adjusting operations as conditions changed.

The aviation authority said it would keep coordinating with airlines, the airport operator, air navigation services and Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG. Passengers were advised to check directly with their airlines and allow for possible schedule changes.

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Safety remains the top priority in every operational decision.