Ash Cloud Grounds Flights Across Java and Sumatra
A surge in eruptions from Anak Krakatau, the active volcano sitting in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, triggered widespread airport closures across Indonesia on Sunday, September 6, 2026. State-owned airport operator InJourney Airports confirmed the suspensions, which rippled from Jakarta to Lampung and beyond, leaving nearly 23,000 travelers stranded or scrambling to rebook.
The eruptions had been intensifying since the night of September 4, according to Indonesian news site Kompas.com, which first reported the escalation. By Sunday morning, ash had drifted over Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Lampung, Bengkulu, and parts of South Sumatra, according to Indonesia's weather agency.
Which Airports Were Affected and for How Long
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta's main international gateway, bore the heaviest impact. Its closure was extended until 1:30 pm local time, during which 209 flights were grounded and 22,798 passengers were affected, figures provided by Lukman F Laisa, director general of civil aviation at Indonesia's transport ministry. Sixteen international flights were cancelled outright, with seven delayed and five rescheduled across routes serving Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Doha, Amsterdam, and Kuala Lumpur.
Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, also in Jakarta, was shut until 10 am, as CNN Indonesia reported. Lampung's Radin Inten II International Airport halted operations until 8 am. Adjustments to flight schedules also rippled out to Yogyakarta International, Minangkabau International in West Sumatra, and Supadio International in West Kalimantan.
Airlines Respond With Cancellations and Waivers
Several carriers moved quickly to manage the disruption. Singapore Airlines cancelled two flights and rescheduled two others. Cathay Pacific waived rebooking, rerouting, and refund charges for affected passengers. Garuda Indonesia announced schedule adjustments for services to and from Jakarta. AirAsia Indonesia's acting chief executive officer Achmad Sadikin confirmed that a number of the airline's flights were cancelled or rescheduled, and that passengers had been notified of their options.
A Volcano With a Dangerous History
Anak Krakatau has been active since early July 2026, but the September eruptions marked a significant escalation. The volcano carries a sobering history: a flank collapse in 2018 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and injured over 1,000 residents and visitors in Lampung and Banten. That context gives any new surge in activity particular weight for travelers and communities in the region.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation operators in Jakarta, Banten, Lampung, and the wider West Java corridor should treat volcanic activity at Anak Krakatau as a recurring operational variable, not a one-off event. When ash events close Soekarno-Hatta, guests can be stranded mid-journey for hours or, in a prolonged closure, overnight. Having a clear, pre-written communication template ready for affected guests, including local transport alternatives, flexible check-in windows, and contacts for nearby airline offices, can turn a stressful situation into a demonstration of genuine hospitality. It is also worth reviewing cancellation and rebooking policies now, before the next eruption, so that both guests and staff understand the process without confusion during a fast-moving disruption.
Details of the airport closures and passenger figures were first reported by The Business Times.
First reported by businesstimes.com.sg.