Jakarta airports stay closed after Mount Anak Krakatau eruption strands more than 270,000 passengers

Jakarta's main airport and three other airports have delayed reopening after a volcanic eruption forced widespread flight disruption across Indonesia. Mount Anak Krakatau, about 150 kilometres from the capital, erupted on Saturday and sent lava and ash into the air. The ash cloud led to closures, cancellations and diversions that left more than 270,000 passengers affected.

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The transport ministry said the figure covered the cumulative operational impact since 5 September 2026 and included flights that were cancelled, delayed or diverted. Eight airports halted operations over the weekend after ash was detected in their airspace, according to the ministry. At least four airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, extended their closure from the morning until 6pm local time, while Halim Perdanakusuma, which handles both civil and military flights, also remained shut.

Soekarno-Hatta said more than 240 domestic and international flights had been cancelled or delayed due to volcanic ash on Monday morning alone, affecting nearly 30,000 passengers. Airport operator Angkasa Pura said the closures were being extended as a precaution while conditions were assessed. A spokesman for the airport said staff were focusing on passenger needs during the temporary shutdown.

Another smaller airport in South Sumatra had resumed operations by 9am, the transport ministry said. The disruption has highlighted how quickly volcanic ash can affect aviation in a country with many active volcanoes and heavily used air routes. Ash can damage aircraft engines and reduce visibility, which is why airports often suspend operations even when the eruption is not directly over a city.

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In this case, the impact has spread well beyond the volcano itself, affecting the capital's main international gateway and several regional airports at the same time. The geology agency warned that the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high. It said the main dangers include incandescent rocks, heavy ashfall and possible lava flows.

Those warnings suggest the aviation disruption may continue if ash keeps entering flight paths or if conditions around the volcano worsen. The scale of the closures also shows the pressure on airlines, airport operators and passengers trying to adjust travel plans at short notice. One traveller described uncertainty over whether he and his partner would be able to leave Jakarta on schedule, saying their flight had been cancelled and nearby hotels were already full.

The incident adds to a wider pattern of transport disruption when volcanic activity affects Indonesia's airspace, where airport closures can be extended quickly as a precaution. What remains unclear is how long the ash threat will last and when all affected airports will be able to reopen fully. The next updates are likely to focus on volcanic activity, airport inspection results and whether more flights are cancelled or diverted.

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