Eight Airports Down, Five Alternatives Activated
The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau has forced the closure of eight Indonesian airports, and the government's response has been swift: five alternative airports are now running around the clock to absorb displaced traffic. According to Tempo, which first reported the details, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the move on Sunday, describing it as a measure to preserve passenger mobility without compromising flight safety.
The eight airports under closure are Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma in the Jakarta area, Radin Inten II and Taufik Kiemas in Lampung, Husein Sastranegara in Bandung, Budiarto and Pondok Cabe in the Tangerang area, and Atung Bungsu in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra. The closure was scheduled to run until 23:59 WIB on Sunday.
Which Airports Are Handling Diverted Flights
The five airports now operating on a 24-hour basis are:
- Kertajati Airport, Majalengka
- Ahmad Yani Airport, Semarang
- Juanda Airport, Surabaya
- Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA)
- Adi Soemarmo Airport, Solo
Airlines have the discretion to choose which of these facilities to use, based on their own fleet readiness, schedules, and service commitments to affected passengers. Passengers, in turn, can either continue their journey via the substitute airport or cancel their flight entirely.
Free Ground Transport Connects Jakarta to Substitute Airports
For travelers whose flights out of Soekarno-Hatta have been diverted, the Ministry of Transportation and InJourney Airports are coordinating free train and bus services to each of the five alternative airports. The minister was explicit: passengers will not be charged for this ground transport. Airlines are responsible for communicating new departure locations and transport options directly to each affected traveler through their own service channels.
Passenger Choices and Refund Rights
The framework gives travelers genuine flexibility. Anyone who does not wish to reroute through an alternative airport can cancel their booking. Separately, Tempo has reported that Indonesia has ordered airlines to offer refunds and rescheduling options across the board, though the details of that policy fall outside this specific announcement.
Why It Matters for Hosts
If you operate accommodation or a hospitality business near any of the five alternative airports, particularly in Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang, or Surabaya, you may see a sudden and significant uptick in arrivals over the coming days. Guests could arrive later than expected, with disrupted onward plans and, in some cases, no confirmed return routing. Practical steps worth taking now: confirm your check-in process works for late-night arrivals given the 24-hour airport operations, brief your front desk on the volcanic ash situation so staff can answer guest questions accurately, and consider whether you can hold rooms a little more flexibly for travelers whose itineraries are still in flux. Clear, proactive communication with incoming guests about local transport options from the airport will also go a long way toward reducing anxiety for people who have already had a stressful travel day.
Details in this post were first reported by Tempo (tempo.co) on September 7, 2026, citing Indonesia's Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi and reporting by Antara.
First reported by en.tempo.co.