Volcanic ash throws Changi-Jakarta flights into chaos

Seven months pregnant and preparing to return to Indonesia to give birth, Catrine Carina arrived at Singapore’s Changi Airport on Sunday expecting a two-hour flight. Instead, she learned that her plane had been grounded.

Carina, 31, was travelling with her husband, Weng Ming Xing, 29. Their flight was among at least 19 Singapore Airlines services cancelled after volcanic activity from Mount Anak Krakatau, about 180 kilometres from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport.

The suspension at Indonesia’s main international and domestic aviation hub was repeatedly extended. Airport data covering 1.30am to 1.30pm showed 301 flights affected by cancellations, delays, diversions and other operational disruptions. The total included 233 domestic flights, 58 international flights and 10 cargo flights. Operations were scheduled to resume at 6.30pm Singapore time.

The disruption put the couple’s plans in limbo. Carina intended to remain in Indonesia until next year after giving birth, while Weng planned to return to Singapore after one week. She said she might need a new fit-to-fly medical note, because such documents for pregnant women usually must be issued within seven to 10 days of departure.

“We were still thinking, a two-hour flight should be fine for me, suddenly this thing happened,” Carina told CNA near an SIA assistance counter in Terminal 2.

Weng said they had checked the SIA website before leaving and found no indication that their flight would be cancelled. He later realized the airline had sent an SMS, but they had missed it while rushing to the airport. Other travellers also said they had received no information or had been wrongly reassured by the SIA app.

The conflicting notices produced problems on both sides of the route. Some passengers reached Changi before learning their flights were grounded, while others in Indonesia were turned away after completing immigration.

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We were still thinking, a two-hour flight should be fine for me, suddenly this thing happened.