Jakarta's main airport shut down as Krakatau ash blankets two islands
Volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau blanketed large parts of Java and Sumatra on 6 September 2026, forcing Indonesian authorities to suspend operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country's principal international gateway, along with seven other airports across the archipelago. The closure was extended to 8.59 am local time on 7 September (9.59 am Singapore time).
Among the airports also suspended were Husein Sastranegara in Bandung and Radin Inten II near Bandar Lampung in Sumatra, two regional hubs that serve significant volumes of domestic traffic. Ash was confirmed over Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Lampung, Bengkulu and South Sumatra by mid-afternoon on Sunday.
Scale of the disruption
Figures from the Indonesian aviation ministry showed 373 flights cancelled and close to 23,000 passengers affected on Sunday alone, with totals expected to rise as airlines continued revising schedules. Lion Air Group reported 305 domestic and international cancellations. Garuda Indonesia and AirAsia Indonesia both adjusted services to and from Jakarta. Several regional carriers, including Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines, cancelled a combined 33 services. Cathay Pacific offered affected passengers free rebooking, rerouting and refunds.
The scale of the impact reflects Soekarno-Hatta's central role: it is the main international entry point to Southeast Asia's largest economy and the hub through which a vast share of domestic connections flow. A prolonged shutdown ripples outward to regional and long-haul routes far beyond Indonesia.
What is known about the volcano
Anak Krakatau sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra and has been active since early July, according to Indonesian news outlet Kompas.com, which first reported the intensification of eruptions on the night of 4 September. Lana Saria, head of the geological agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, noted that continuing tremors mean activity could fluctuate or intensify, though the timing and scale of future eruptions cannot be predicted. She added that while the latest activity indicates an ongoing supply of gas and magma, frequent eruptions do not necessarily signal a larger event is imminent.
The volcano carries a sobering historical record. A flank collapse in 2018 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and injured over 1,000 in Lampung and Banten.
Why it matters for hosts
Independent accommodation operators in Jakarta, Bandung, Banten and the Lampung coast should prepare for sudden, unpredictable booking cancellations whenever Anak Krakatau's activity escalates. The practical steps are straightforward: review your cancellation and rebooking policies now so guests facing flight disruptions know exactly what flexibility you offer; keep contact details current so you can reach guests proactively if their arrival airport is affected; and consider drafting a brief, factual communication template you can send quickly during future closures. Travelers stranded in Jakarta may also need last-minute extensions, so having a clear process for walk-in or same-day extension requests can turn a disruption into a positive guest experience.
Details of the airport closures and passenger figures were first reported by The Business Times (Singapore).
First reported by businesstimes.com.sg.