Indonesia Airports Remain Closed Despite Easing Anak Krakatau Eruption

Written By: Hrittik Shaw

Hrittik Shaw

Bio-Hrittik Shaw is a travel news writer with a passion for uncovering global tourism trends, aviation developments, destination insights, and hospitality innovations. He specialises in producing well-researched, data-driven, and engaging reports that simplify complex travel industry developments for a global audience. His work focuses on tourism policies, airline news, sustainable travel, infrastructure, emerging destinations, and international travel trends, helping readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving world of travel.

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September 8, 2026 12:23 AM

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For travellers arriving in Indonesia this week, the holiday may begin with an unexpected wait at the airport. Volcanic ash from the erupting Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait has disrupted air travel across parts of Java and Sumatra, leaving passengers facing cancellations, delays and diversions. Although the volcano’s most prolonged eruptive episode has ended, Indonesian authorities are keeping several airports closed while they assess ash movement and aviation safety.

Anak Krakatau activity eases, but volcanic threat remains

Indonesia’s Geological Agency said a continuous eruption that began at 11:07 p.m. local time on September 4 ended at 12:04 a.m. on September 6 after lasting around 25 hours. The end of that episode marked a reduction in one phase of the eruption, but it did not mean Anak Krakatau had become inactive.

The volcano subsequently produced further Strombolian eruptions, while monitoring showed continuing volcanic activity. In its September 7 assessment, the Geological Agency said the probability of another eruption remained high and maintained Anak Krakatau at Level III, or Siaga. Tourists and visitors were also advised not to enter within three kilometres of the volcano’s activity centre.

Volcanic ash keeps flights grounded

For aviation, the bigger concern is not simply whether lava is still erupting. It is where volcanic ash is travelling.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency, BMKG, reported that ash from Anak Krakatau was affecting aviation operations and had prompted temporary closures at airports across Java and Sumatra. On September 7, BMKG said ash had been detected at altitudes reaching approximately 15,000 feet in one monitored layer, while higher-level observations showed ash extending much farther west over the Indian Ocean.

The agency said changing wind patterns were influencing the direction and extent of the ash cloud. This makes aviation decisions particularly sensitive because conditions can shift even as volcanic activity itself begins to moderate.

Seven airports face extended closures

Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation extended the closure of seven affected airports until 11:59 p.m. local time on September 7 as a precautionary measure.

The airports listed by the ministry were Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten, Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung, Budiarto Airport in Banten, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, Pondok Cabe Airport in Banten, Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas Airport in Lampung and Husein Sastranegara Airport in West Java.

Earlier on September 7, BMKG had reported eight airports being affected, including Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra. The differing figures reflect the rapidly changing operational situation rather than a contradiction in the overall response.

Nearly 3,000 flights affected

The scale of the disruption has already become significant for travellers.

By Monday afternoon, Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said 2,961 flights had been affected by operational changes linked to the volcanic ash. That included 2,339 domestic services and 622 international services.

Around 341,000 passengers had been affected, with the ministry noting that the figure included flights cancelled, delayed or diverted.

For international visitors, the disruption at Soekarno-Hatta is particularly important. Jakarta is one of Indonesia’s major international gateways, meaning disruption there can affect travellers who are not visiting the areas surrounding Anak Krakatau at all.

A tourist flying into Jakarta before continuing to another Indonesian destination could therefore find the second part of their itinerary disrupted even if their final holiday destination is far from the volcano.

Why airports are not reopening immediately

The decision to keep airports closed is being driven by aviation safety rather than simply the intensity of the eruption.

Indonesia’s Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said authorities were taking a conservative approach because wind directions remained dynamic. Even where airport paper tests showed negative results, officials said they were waiting for guidance from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) Darwin, the official reference used for assessing volcanic ash hazards to aviation.

Airport operators also need time to inspect and clean airside facilities, including runways, taxiways and aprons. Airlines must similarly check aircraft for possible exposure to volcanic ash before returning them to normal service.

That means a reduction in eruptive activity does not automatically translate into an immediate return to normal flight schedules.

What tourists should do before travelling

Travellers with upcoming flights to or through western Indonesia should check directly with their airline before leaving for the airport. Those using Jakarta as a connection point should pay particular attention because disruption to an inbound international flight can have knock-on effects on domestic connections.

Passengers should also avoid making separate alternative-flight or hotel arrangements before speaking with their airline if their original service has been cancelled or diverted. Airlines may provide rebooking options as airport operations change.

Importantly, the current disruption does not mean Indonesia as a whole is closed to tourists. The impact is concentrated around airports and airspace affected by volcanic ash, while the country’s wider tourism network continues to operate subject to local conditions and flight availability.

Anak Krakatau remains under close watch

The Geological Agency continues to monitor the volcano and said its activity level remains at Level III. Visitors are prohibited from entering the three-kilometre exclusion zone, while people affected by ash have been advised to reduce outdoor activity or use masks.

At the same time, BMKG said monitoring of the Sunda Strait was continuing. Its September 7 assessment placed the probability of a tsunami in the strait in the low category and reported relatively modest wave conditions, underscoring that the immediate travel disruption is principally an aviation and volcanic-ash issue rather than a general shutdown of the surrounding coastal region.

Travel plans remain dependent on changing conditions

For visitors planning an Indonesia trip, the situation is a reminder that volcanic disruption can continue even after the most dramatic phase of an eruption has passed. Anak Krakatau’s prolonged eruption has ended, but authorities are still watching for renewed activity and tracking where ash is moving through the atmosphere.

For now, travellers should treat flight schedules as changeable, particularly when their itinerary involves Jakarta, Banten, Lampung or other airports affected by the ash cloud. The safest approach is to keep checking official airport and airline updates and allow extra flexibility for connections.

For anyone who has spent months planning an Indonesian getaway, a delayed flight can be frustrating, but the current airport closures are ultimately designed to prevent a much more serious problem: putting aircraft and passengers into an unsafe volcanic-ash environment.