TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday following disruptions caused by volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau. Over 340,000 travelers experienced delays, cancellations, or diversions during this period. Almost 3,000 flights across Indonesia were impacted. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after winds cleared ash from critical aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with observers noting three smaller eruptions in the morning.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports restarted their services at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport followed suit at 2:25 a.m. Meanwhile, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had reopened on Monday morning. Two airports in Lampung, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas, are still awaiting further evaluations according to the latest official transport update. Before resuming normal operations, airport authorities mandated aircraft safety inspections.
The closures took place after Anak Krakatau dispersed volcanic ash into the airspace over Jakarta and its surrounding areas. During the disruption, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international gateway at Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses serious aviation risks by damaging aircraft engines and reducing visibility. Consequently, authorities restricted aircraft from entering monitored zones with ash presence. The disruption caused major adjustments to domestic and international schedules, with airlines modifying departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements across affected facilities.
Key airports reopen following ash dispersal
Anak Krakatau’s recent phase of sustained activity started late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. A continuous eruptive episode began at 11:07 p.m. on Friday and concluded shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting roughly 25 hours. Monitoring systems recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after this continuous phase ended. Earlier ash plumes soared to heights nearing 50,000 feet in some regions, dispersing volcanic material across parts of western Indonesia and disrupting major flight corridors.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, Indonesia’s second-highest volcanic alert level. A three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active core remained in place. Officials advised residents affected by ash fall to limit outdoor activities or to wear masks. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were instructed to follow official guidance and to dismiss unverified tsunami warnings. The volcano’s monitoring network continued recording seismic and eruptive signals after the extended eruption period ended over the weekend.
Hundreds of thousands affected by travel disruptions
Tuesday’s three smaller eruptions occurred as airports managed the aftermath of the multi-day shutdown. Officials mandated inspections for aircraft that remained grounded during the closure. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 planes required airworthiness checks before they could return to service. Pilots and operational crews also received instructions regarding restricted airspace with volcanic ash. These safety measures accompanied the reopening of airports once conditions improved sufficiently for flight operations.
Anak Krakatau is an active volcanic island situated in the Sunda Strait and is part of the Krakatau volcanic complex. Its activity has been increasing throughout 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. The volcano experienced a significant collapse during an eruption in December 2018, which triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia has over 100 active volcanoes, as it lies along the major tectonic boundaries of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.