TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia has reinstated services at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional hubs on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau temporarily disrupted air travel nationwide. The ash cloud impacted nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 passengers across the country, prompting authorities to act swiftly. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed operations once officials confirmed that ash levels had diminished. Monitoring teams documented three smaller eruptions early Tuesday morning, and the volcano continued to be classified at Level III, the second-highest alert status in Indonesia.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, airports including Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara reopened shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport resumed their operations a little over two hours later. Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already reopened on Monday, but Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung were still under assessment. Officials mandated thorough safety inspections for aircraft affected by the extended disruption before resuming flights.
The closure was initiated after Anak Krakatau emitted ash into the airspace serving Jakarta and surrounding regions, leading to the suspension of operations at eight airports, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines responded by adjusting both domestic and international schedules as ash spread across major flight corridors. Volcanic ash presents significant hazards to aircraft engines and visibility, prompting aviation authorities to impose restrictions on flights over ash-affected zones. These measures resulted in widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions across Indonesia’s aviation network.
Airports Restart Operations After Significant Disruptions
Late on Friday, Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase within the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, with continuous activity beginning at 11:07 p.m. and ceasing shortly after midnight on Sunday, totaling approximately 25 hours of activity. Monitoring later detected additional Strombolian eruptions after the main phase concluded, with ash plumes reaching nearly 50,000 feet in some regions, causing high-altitude ash to disperse over parts of western Indonesia and necessitating restrictions on access to affected airspace by aviation authorities.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano. Officials advised residents affected by ash to limit outdoor activities or wear masks, while urging coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely solely on official information and to avoid circulating unverified tsunami warnings. Continuous monitoring persisted after the eruptive episode, with seismic instruments recording ongoing activity and new eruptions around the volcanic island.
Passenger Numbers Surpass 340,000 Amid Recovery Efforts
Following the shutdown, airport operators worked diligently to restore normal operations on Tuesday, with Soekarno-Hatta requiring inspections for 178 aircraft that remained grounded during the closure. Flight crews also received updated guidance concerning restricted airspace and zones where volcanic ash persisted, as authorities carried out safety checks around affected airports to ensure safe resumption of flights. This disruption represented one of the most impactful operational setbacks caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity during its current eruptive phase.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau is part of the volcanic system formed by the historic Krakatau eruptions. The volcano has exhibited increased activity since July 2026, with multiple eruptions recorded, including a significant collapse in December 2018 that triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coasts. Indonesia hosts over 100 active volcanoes and sits along major tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and eruptions frequently occur.