Volcano eruption grounds hundreds of flights in Indonesia

Indonesia has closed six airports and disrupted hundreds of flights after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau spread across western parts of the country.

The eruption has prompted authorities to redirect flights, prepare alternative airports and guarantee full refunds for passengers whose services were canceled because of the ash.

Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry indicated that six airports were temporarily closed after volcanic ash was detected in airspace and began affecting flight safety.

The affected airports are Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung, and Pondok Cabe and Budiarto airports in Tangerang. Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung was subsequently closed after further testing found it was also affected by volcanic ash.

The disruption has been substantial.

At Soekarno-Hatta alone, the airport’s authority InJourney Airports recorded 209 canceled scheduled flights between 1:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The total comprised 160 domestic flights, 39 international services and 10 cargo flights.

Across the six affected airports, Reuters reported that 301 flights had been disrupted, including 58 international services.

The impact is also being felt beyond Jakarta. Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport canceled five inbound flights from Jakarta and canceled or delayed 12 departures to Jakarta and Halim Perdanakusuma, according to airport authorities.

The government is now preparing three alternative airports to keep air connectivity operating.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said Kertajati Airport in West Java, Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang and Juanda Airport in Surabaya have been designated as alternative landing points for domestic and international services. Airlines have been authorized to divert flights there, subject to operational and safety conditions.

The Geological Agency said volcanic ash has spread across Banten, West Java and Jakarta on Java Island, as well as Lampung and Bengkulu on Sumatra Island, increasing the potential impact on aviation and communities.

Authorities have also ordered airlines to provide full refunds to passengers whose flights were canceled because of airport closures linked to the eruption.

Passengers are being advised to check directly with airlines before traveling to airports as the ash situation and operational restrictions remain subject to change.