What the Anak Krakatau eruption means for Indonesia

The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau has disrupted Indonesia’s air travel network and raised health concerns as volcanic ash spread across several regions.

Eight airports closed because of the ash on Monday, September 7, 2026. The disruption affected 1,558 flights and about 170,000 passengers, according to the Transportation Ministry as reported by Al Jazeera. More than 900 affected flights involved services to or from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia’s main gateway.

The other affected airports were Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Radin Inten II in Lampung, Husein Sastranegara in Bandung, Budiarto in Curug, Pondok Cabe in South Tangerang, Taufik Kiemas in Pesisir Barat and Atung Bungsu in Pagar Alam.

At Soekarno-Hatta, the temporary closure affected 1,039 flights and 166,351 passengers. The airport suspended operations at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, after authorities detected the potential spread of volcanic ash. A notice issued by AirNav Indonesia said the closure was extended until 8:59 a.m. Monday. By 9:30 p.m. Sunday, the affected flights included 746 domestic services, 272 international services and 21 cargo flights. Some were cancelled, delayed or diverted.

The ash spread across Banten, Jakarta, West Java, Lampung and Bengkulu. The fine particles contain fragments of rock, minerals and volcanic glass, which can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory system. Exposure may cause coughing, sneezing and breathing difficulties. People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory conditions may face worsening symptoms, while finer particles can reach deep into the lungs.