Eight Airports Shut as Ash Spreads Across Java and Sumatra
Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau has grounded flights across eight Indonesian airports for a second consecutive day, with disruptions growing sharply since the closures began on September 6. By 9am on September 7, roughly 2,300 flights and 263,000 passengers had been affected, up from approximately 1,700 flights and 170,000 passengers the day before, according to reporting by The Straits Times.
The airports affected include Jakarta's two main gateways, Soekarno-Hatta International and Halim Perdanakusuma, along with facilities serving Lampung, Bandung, Tangerang, South Tangerang, and South Sumatra. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said closures were extended at least until 6pm local time on September 7, with ash detection checks being run every 30 minutes. He noted that shifting wind directions at different altitudes made it genuinely difficult to forecast where ash would travel next, meaning no airport could be declared safe with certainty until tests confirmed it.
Anak Krakatau, which sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, began erupting on September 4. It currently sits at Level III alert, known locally as Siaga, the second-highest classification, and authorities have warned that further eruptions remain possible. A 3-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano is in force.
Alternative Airports and Free Ground Transport
To manage the expected surge of passengers once operations resume, authorities are directing airlines toward alternative airports at Kertajati, Semarang, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, and Solo. Passengers rerouted to these airports are being offered free bus and train connections back toward Jakarta. Eight buses were already staged at Kertajati on the morning of September 7.
Before any airport can reopen, runways, taxiways, and aprons must be physically cleared of ash, a process that took about two hours overnight. Aircraft also require individual engine inspections before being permitted to fly. Ferry services across the Sunda Strait have continued to operate, though passenger numbers have dropped as many travelers appear to be canceling trips rather than switching to sea transport.
Health Risks Extend Beyond the Airport
The eruption is creating public health pressure well beyond aviation. Indonesia's Health Ministry identified roughly 3.3 million elderly people as being at elevated risk from ash exposure, citing the fine particles' ability to penetrate deep into the respiratory system and worsen conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eye and skin irritation are also concerns.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to wear N95 or KN95 masks and protective eyewear outdoors, keep windows and doors sealed, and dampen ash before sweeping to prevent particles from becoming airborne again. Schools in Jakarta, parts of Lampung, and Tangerang have moved to remote learning.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation operators in Jakarta and the surrounding region should expect a prolonged wave of disrupted arrivals and last-minute cancellations in the days following any reopening. Guests stranded at overseas airports, including Singapore, may arrive significantly later than booked or request date changes. Proactive communication is essential: reach out to incoming guests now with clear information about the situation, your flexibility policy, and directions from the alternative arrival airports at Kertajati, Semarang, or Yogyakarta. Keeping a list of reliable ground transport contacts will also help guests who land far from their original destination find their way to your property without added stress.
Details in this post were first reported by Hariz Baharudin for The Straits Times on September 7, 2026. This summary is published by the Qontaktly travel blog.
First reported by straitstimes.com.