Jakarta Airports Reopen After Anak Krakatau Ash, But Risk Persists
Flights are moving again through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and four other Indonesian airports that were shut down after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau swept across the Jakarta region. The reopening, which came on Tuesday after shifting winds cleared the ash from the airport area, offers relief to hundreds of thousands of stranded passengers. However, the volcano erupted three more times on Tuesday morning, keeping the threat of fresh disruptions very much alive.
What Happened
The crisis began on Friday night when Anak Krakatau, the volcanic island sitting in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, began erupting and sending ash columns over the surrounding region. Eight airports in total were closed for flight safety. According to figures cited by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and first reported by IDN Financials, roughly 341,000 people were affected by delays, diversions, and cancellations across 2,961 flights.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed that Soekarno-Hatta resumed operations once wind patterns shifted the ash plume away from the airport. A smaller Jakarta airport and one in Bandung also reopened on Tuesday, while one additional airport had already come back online on Monday. Two airports remained closed as of the time of reporting.
The reopening does not mean a clean return to normal. Authorities still need to assess 178 aircraft that were grounded during the closures before those planes can return to service. Minister Dudy acknowledged this would add time before full capacity is restored.
Travelers Still Facing Delays
The human cost of the disruption has been substantial. One passenger, 31-year-old Alvin Pratama Putra, told reporters his flight to South Korea, originally booked for Sunday, had been pushed back to Thursday. He spent part of that wait sleeping on an airport bench. His response captured a sentiment shared by many: the situation is frustrating, but forcing flights through volcanic ash would be far more dangerous.
The Tuesday morning eruptions were described as less powerful than the initial event. Lana Saria, head of Indonesia's Geological Agency, noted that the immediate impact had not matched the severity of the first eruption, while stressing that monitoring would continue. The key variables going forward are the height of any new ash columns and wind direction, both of which can change quickly.
Context: Indonesia's Volcanic Geography
Another eruption from this particular volcano is not surprising given the country's geology. Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and hosts around 130 active volcanoes. Anak Krakatau itself emerged roughly a century ago from the caldera left by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of the original Krakatau, which killed more than 36,000 people and generated a devastating tsunami. The island has been intermittently active ever since.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation operators in Jakarta and nearby destinations such as Bandung should treat volcanic disruption as a recurring operational reality, not a one-off event. Guests whose flights are delayed or cancelled will need flexible check-in and check-out arrangements, and clear communication about rebooking policies. Keeping a direct line open with guests in transit, and having a simple written contingency policy ready to share, can turn a stressful situation into a moment that builds loyalty. Operators near airports may also want to consider whether short-stay or extended-stay pricing structures make sense for passengers caught in multi-day waits.
Details in this post were first reported by IDN Financials on 8 September 2026, with additional sourcing attributed to Reuters.
First reported by idnfinancials.com.