Jakarta Airport Reopens After Anak Krakatau Eruption
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta’s main airport and four other airports after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau cleared sufficiently for flights to resume, although fresh eruptions on Tuesday have kept authorities on alert for further disruption.
Jakarta Airport Reopens as Volcanic Ash Clears
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed operations on Tuesday after winds dispersed volcanic ash that had made flying conditions unsafe.
Four other airports, including Jakarta’s smaller Halim Perdanakusuma Airport and an airport serving Bandung, also reopened. Another affected airport had resumed operations on Monday, while two remained closed.
Authorities said 178 aircraft grounded at Soekarno-Hatta during the shutdown would undergo airworthiness checks before returning to service, meaning delays could continue even as normal operations gradually resume.
Anak Krakatau Eruption Disrupts Nearly 3,000 Flights
Ash from Anak Krakatau had affected Jakarta and surrounding areas since the volcano began erupting late on Friday.
Eight airports were closed for safety reasons during the disruption, affecting more than 340,000 travellers through delays, diversions and cancellations involving nearly 3,000 flights.
Airlines also face significant financial losses from cancelled services, additional fuel for diversions, aircraft parking and crew expenses. Industry estimates suggest carriers could lose up to 19 billion rupiah, around $1 million, per day during such disruptions.
Fresh Anak Krakatau Eruptions Keep Authorities Alert
Anak Krakatau erupted three more times on Tuesday morning. The latest eruptions were smaller than the earlier activity, but officials warned that ash height and wind direction could again affect aviation.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the volcano closely.
Indonesia has around 130 active volcanoes and lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. Anak Krakatau sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra and emerged from the remnants of the historic Krakatau volcano.
