Indonesia Reopens Airports After Anak Krakatau Eruption Strands 340,000 Passengers

Flights resume after two days of disruption

Indonesia began reopening five airports after midnight on Tuesday, following a volcanic eruption that disrupted almost 3,000 flights and left more than 340,000 passengers stranded across the country.

Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, began erupting late on Friday. Lava fountains rose from the volcano while ash spread across parts of Lampung, western Java and the airspace around Jakarta. The continuing activity forced airports to suspend operations as airlines assessed whether aircraft could safely take off and land.

Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main aviation hub, was the first to halt flights on Sunday morning. It resumed operations at 00:30 local time on Tuesday, or 18:30 GMT on Monday, after officials carried out final checks. Other airports were also reopening in stages, although airlines warned that cancellations and delays could continue as aircraft and crews were repositioned.

Reports from Indonesia’s Transport Ministry placed the number of affected passengers at around 270,000 at one stage, while later figures covering cancelled, delayed and diverted flights raised the total above 340,000. The difference reflects changing calculations as the disruption continued and more flights were affected.

Passengers face long queues and uncertain travel plans

At Soekarno Hatta, long queues formed in departure halls as travellers sought refunds, alternative tickets and information from airlines. Some passengers waited for updates on airport screens, while others arranged lengthy journeys by road, rail or ferry to reach airports outside the ash affected area.

Finna, a 46 year old passenger who was travelling home to Jakarta from Malang in East Java, described a crowded terminal after flights were repeatedly rescheduled. She eventually spent the night on two intercity trains and arrived in Jakarta at about 03:00 on Monday.

She told BBC Indonesian that passengers from morning flights had been joined by people scheduled to travel later in the day, leaving many uncertain about whether their flights would operate. Her account reflected the confusion caused when airlines cannot provide firm departure times because volcanic ash can shift quickly with changing winds.

Canadian traveller Michael Bociurkiw described a calmer scene at Soekarno Hatta, with airport staff providing water and snacks and airline counters offering refunds or rebooking. Travellers who chose not to wait were advised to consider Juanda Airport near Surabaya, several hours away by road, or airports in other parts of Indonesia.

A Malaysian couple on honeymoon in Bali faced a similar problem after being told that their next flight to Kuala Lumpur might not operate for several days. Amir Hamzah, 29, said the couple had planned to leave on the day their flight was cancelled and had brought enough money for a short holiday, not an extended stay.

Why volcanic ash closes airports

Volcanic ash is made up of tiny fragments of rock, glass and minerals. It is dangerous to aircraft because the particles can enter jet engines, melt inside the high temperature sections and then harden on turbine blades. This can reduce engine power or cause an engine to fail.

Ash can also damage windshields, interfere with sensors and reduce visibility during takeoff and landing. For that reason, airports may close even when the volcano is many kilometres away. The decision depends on the height and density of the ash cloud, wind direction, weather conditions and the routes used by incoming and outgoing aircraft.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, reported ash reaching about 6,000 metres on the Java side of Anak Krakatau. On the Sumatra side and over parts of Banten province, the plume rose as high as 15,000 metres. Those heights placed ash in air corridors used by domestic and international flights.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said airport authorities were conducting tests every 30 minutes to establish whether the ash cloud was expanding or weakening. He also said the timing of reopening could not be fixed in advance because weather conditions were changing.

We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather, Dudy Purwagandhi said.

Airlines redirect aircraft as airports reopen

Authorities prepared alternative airports in East Java, Central Java and Yogyakarta for aircraft originally scheduled to land in Jakarta. Free bus services were planned for passengers who wanted to continue their journeys from another airport, a measure intended to reduce pressure on the capital’s transport network.

The disruption affected domestic routes as well as international services linking Indonesia with Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha and Sydney. When airports close, the effects spread through airline networks. An aircraft that cannot reach Jakarta may be unable to operate its next flight from the city, while crews can become stranded in different locations.

Airlines offered passengers refunds, new bookings and, in some cases, rerouting. Indonesia also relaxed rules for foreign visitors whose permitted stays expired because their flights had been cancelled. Hotels near major airports filled quickly, leaving some travellers to search for rooms farther from terminals or use trains and buses instead.

Jo Shaw, who was visiting Indonesia with members of the conservation charity Save the Rhino International, said her group abandoned plans to camp at Ujung Kulon National Park after the volcano alert level was raised. She described being stuck in an airport hotel as a manageable inconvenience, while expressing greater concern for conservation workers operating near the affected area.

Health advice as ash reaches populated areas

Volcanic ash can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin advised people in affected areas to remain indoors when ash was falling and to wear face masks outdoors. Residents were also advised to protect their eyes and avoid unnecessary travel.

Local reports described schools cancelling activities after students complained of eye irritation. Fishermen also stopped some trips after encountering ash at sea. One resident compared the sensation in his eyes to small grains of sand and said ash had accumulated so quickly that he needed to sweep his yard every few minutes.

Health risks depend on the amount of ash, the length of exposure and a person’s existing medical conditions. People with asthma or other respiratory illnesses can be especially vulnerable. Ash can also contaminate water supplies, damage crops and make roads slippery, creating hazards beyond the airport system.

Officials warn that further eruptions are possible

Indonesia’s Geological Agency warned on Monday that the likelihood of further eruptions remained high. The agency identified falling incandescent rocks and heavy ashfall as immediate dangers. Lava flows could also pose a threat if the eruption resumed and continued.

Authorities ordered people to stay at least 3 kilometres from the active crater. Ships were prohibited from entering a 3 kilometre exclusion zone around the volcano. Officials said there was no tsunami warning linked to the latest activity, although the exclusion zone reflected the continuing risk from eruptive material and sudden changes around the island.

Anak Krakatau means Child of Krakatoa. It emerged from the sea in the early 20th century inside the large caldera left by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. That eruption caused powerful explosions, ashfall across a wide area and a tsunami that killed tens of thousands of people, according to historical estimates.

The newer volcano became a major source of concern in December 2018, when part of its cone collapsed into the sea. The collapse generated a tsunami that struck coastlines on Java and Sumatra, killing more than 400 people and injuring or displacing thousands. Scientists later found that some of the rock masses involved in the collapse were about 70 to 90 metres high.

Indonesia’s wider volcanic risk

Indonesia has frequent earthquakes and eruptions because it sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone stretching about 40,000 kilometres around the Pacific Ocean. Several tectonic plates meet in this region, including the Indo Australian, Eurasian and Pacific plates. Their movement creates conditions for earthquakes, deep ocean trenches and volcanic activity.

The Ring of Fire contains about 75 percent of the world’s active volcanoes and is associated with roughly 90 percent of global earthquakes. Indonesia’s location gives it fertile volcanic soil and rich marine environments, while also placing many communities, roads, ports and airports near active geological systems.

Anak Krakatau shows why volcanic danger is measured by more than the size of an eruption. Even a relatively short event can affect hundreds of thousands of travellers when ash reaches a major capital and one of the region’s busiest air networks. The danger grows when eruptions occur near shipping lanes, tourist destinations and densely populated coastlines.

What travellers should know during ash disruptions

Passengers affected by volcanic closures should confirm flight status directly with their airline before travelling to an airport. A reopened terminal does not always mean that every scheduled service has resumed, since aircraft and crews may still be out of position.

Travellers should keep boarding documents, receipts and cancellation notices, since these may be needed for refunds, rebooking or claims. Those considering alternative airports should check the full journey, including bus, train or ferry connections, because a replacement flight may operate from a location several hours away.

People in ash affected areas should follow local instructions, limit outdoor exposure and use suitable face protection. Visitors should avoid restricted zones around the volcano and should not travel to beaches or low lying coastal areas unless authorities say it is safe.

The Bottom Line

• Five Indonesian airports began reopening after more than two days of disruption.
• Nearly 3,000 flights were cancelled, delayed or diverted, affecting more than 340,000 passengers.
• Anak Krakatau sent ash as high as 15,000 metres over areas near Sumatra and western Java.
• Authorities warned that further eruptions, heavy ashfall, falling rocks and lava flows remained possible.
• People were ordered to stay at least 3 kilometres from the crater, with no tsunami warning issued.
• The 2018 collapse of Anak Krakatau triggered a deadly tsunami on the coasts of Java and Sumatra.