340,000 Travellers Stranded, But Bali Stays Open
When Anak Krakatau erupted on Sunday, September 7, 2026, the fallout was swift. Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport closed alongside seven other Indonesian airports, nearly 3,000 flights were disrupted, and roughly 340,000 travellers found themselves stranded or rerouted. For anyone with Indonesia on their itinerary, the images of empty departure halls and ash-covered cars in West Java raised an obvious question: how worried should you actually be?
The short answer, according to experts first quoted by news.com.au, is that concern should be proportionate to where you are going.
Bali and Lombok: No Disruption Reported
Alvin Lie, head of the Indonesian Air Transportation Service User Association, told news.com.au directly: "For Australian travellers, their primary destination is Bali and, until now, Bali and Lombok are safe. There is no need to worry." The Anak Krakatau volcano sits in the Sunda Strait, roughly 150 kilometres from Jakarta, and the ash and disruption have been concentrated in West Java and parts of South Sumatra. Bali is geographically separate from that zone.
That said, the eruption did not occur in isolation. Mount Sinabung on Sumatra erupted on August 31, sending a 3,500-metre ash plume into the air and briefly closing Kualanamu International Airport on September 1. Mount Lewotobi in East Flores also erupted on August 27, prompting a 5-kilometre exclusion zone for residents and tourists alike.
Why Volcanic Activity Is Hard to Predict Here
Dr Eddie Dempsey, associate professor in geohazards at the University of Hull, explained to news.com.au that all three recent eruptions share a common cause: the ongoing collision of the Indo-Australian Plate and the Sunda Block. He was clear that the close timing of the eruptions is most likely coincidental, and that the risk of volcanoes erupting elsewhere across Indonesia has neither increased nor decreased compared to normal baseline levels. Heightened activity in the currently affected areas is, however, expected to continue for days to weeks.
For travellers who are near volcanic activity, the risks range from lava flows and lahars to airborne projectiles and volcanic gases. Dr Dicky Budiman, a global health security expert, noted that volcanic ash particles are sharper than ordinary pollution and can cause acute respiratory irritation, coughing, and eye irritation. People with asthma, children, and the elderly face higher risk. His practical advice: follow official evacuation orders promptly, wear a well-fitting mask if outdoors near ash, keep windows closed, and rely on information from local authorities rather than social media.
Practical Steps for Travellers
Soekarno-Hatta Airport announced a resumption of flights from midnight on September 8, though delays from the backlog were expected to continue. Qantas confirmed to customers that fee-free refunds, travel credits, or date changes were available for Jakarta bookings made on or before September 5, for travel between September 5 and 11. Passengers transiting through Singapore also faced cancellations mid-journey, as one Perth-based traveller, Dr Ian Wilson of Murdoch University, described to news.com.au after his Singapore Airlines connection to Jakarta was cancelled on arrival.
Alvin Lie's overarching advice for anyone travelling to Indonesia: purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers missed connections and flight cancellations before you depart.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation operators in Bali and Lombok are unlikely to face direct disruption from the current Anak Krakatau activity, but the international headlines may prompt guests to ask questions or consider cancellations out of general anxiety. Having a short, factual message ready, pointing guests to Indonesia's Geological Agency updates and confirming your property's location relative to any active exclusion zones, can reduce unnecessary cancellations and build trust. Flexible booking terms during periods of regional volcanic uncertainty are also worth reviewing proactively.
Details in this post were first reported by news.com.au, based on reporting by Aisyah Llewellyn. This post is published by the Qontaktly travel blog.
First reported by news.com.au.