TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia restarted operations at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional hubs on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau caused widespread interference with air travel. Nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 passengers across the nation were affected by the volcanic activity. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed its services once authorities confirmed the ash levels had decreased. On Tuesday morning, monitoring teams recorded three smaller eruptions. The volcano remains at Level III, the second-highest alert status in Indonesia.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports reopened shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Operations at Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport resumed just over two hours later. Additionally, Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra had already reopened on Monday. Meanwhile, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung are still awaiting further evaluation. Officials also mandated safety inspections for aircraft that were exposed to the prolonged disruption before they could return to service.
The closure was initiated after Anak Krakatau expelled ash into the airspace over Jakarta and neighboring regions. During this period, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub. Airlines adjusted their domestic and international flight schedules as ash dispersed across key routes. Volcanic ash poses a serious threat to aircraft engines and can impair visibility. Aviation authorities restricted flights in areas where ash was detected. The disruptions caused extensive delays, cancellations, and diversions within the national flight network.
Airports Restart Operations Following Major Disruption
Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase late Friday in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The ongoing activity started at 11:07 p.m. and concluded shortly after midnight on Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring later recorded additional Strombolian eruptions after the main eruptive phase ended. Earlier ash plumes reached altitudes of nearly 50,000 feet in some regions, spreading high-altitude ash across parts of western Indonesia and forcing authorities to restrict access to affected airspace.
The Geological Agency maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III and enforced a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s active center. Officials advised those affected by ash to minimize outdoor activity or wear masks. They also urged coastal communities in Banten and Lampung to rely on official updates and warned residents against circulating unverified tsunami claims. Monitoring continued after the eruptive episode, with instruments recording ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions near the volcanic island.
Passenger Numbers Rise Above 340,000 Amid Ongoing Recovery
As flights gradually resumed on Tuesday, airport operators worked to address the impact of the shutdown. At Soekarno-Hatta, 178 grounded aircraft underwent inspections, and flight crews received updated information about restricted airspaces and remaining ash hazards. Authorities continued assessing conditions at affected airports before restoring full operations. The disruption caused by Anak Krakatau’s activity ranks as one of the most significant operational challenges during this eruptive period.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau formed within the volcanic system created by the historic Krakatau eruptions. The volcano has exhibited increased activity throughout 2026, including eruptions recorded since July. A major collapse during an eruption in December 2018 generated a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia, home to over 100 active volcanoes, is situated along tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.