TANGERANG, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia saw the reopening of Jakarta’s main airport along with several regional facilities on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau temporarily halted air traffic. The eruption affected nearly 3,000 flights and impacted over 340,000 passengers nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed its operations once authorities confirmed that ash levels had decreased. Monitoring teams documented three smaller eruptions during Tuesday morning. The volcano remained classified at Level III, the second-highest alert level in Indonesia.
The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports reopened shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport resumed operations slightly over two hours later. In South Sumatra, Atung Bungsu Airport had already reopened on Monday. Meanwhile, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung were still awaiting further evaluation. Officials also mandated safety inspections for aircraft exposed to the prolonged ash disruptions before allowing them to return to service.
The suspension of flights started after Anak Krakatau emitted ash into the airspace covering Jakarta and nearby regions. During this period, eight airports suspended operations, 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 restrict flights from areas with detectable ash levels. These closures resulted in widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions across the country’s aviation network.
Airports restore service after extensive disruption
Late Friday, Anak Krakatau entered a sustained eruptive phase in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The continuous activity began at 11:07 p.m. and ceased shortly after midnight Sunday, lasting approximately 25 hours. Monitoring later recorded additional Strombolian eruptions following the end of this phase. Earlier ash plumes soared to nearly 50,000 feet in some locations, dispersing over parts of western Indonesia and compelling authorities to impose restrictions on 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 residents affected by ash to limit outdoor activities or wear masks. Coastal communities in Banten and Lampung were urged to rely solely on official updates, with warnings issued against spreading unverified tsunami information. Ongoing seismic activity and additional eruptions continued to be recorded even after the eruptive episode concluded, indicating persistent volcanic unrest.
Passenger numbers exceed 340,000 amid ongoing recovery
As flights gradually resumed on Tuesday, airport operators addressed the backlog caused by the shutdown. At Soekarno-Hatta, inspections were carried out on 178 aircraft that had remained grounded during the closure. Flight crews received updated information concerning restricted airspace and areas with residual volcanic ash. Prior to reopening fully, authorities checked conditions at affected airports to ensure safety, marking this as one of the most significant operational disruptions linked to Anak Krakatau’s activity during this eruptive phase.
Located in the Sunda Strait, Anak Krakatau formed within the volcanic system created by the historic Krakatau eruptions. The volcano has shown increased activity during 2026, with eruptions recorded since July. A major collapse during a December 2018 eruption triggered a deadly tsunami along nearby coastlines. Indonesia, with more than 100 active volcanoes, lies along critical tectonic boundaries within the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent eruptions and earthquakes.