Jakarta Airport has extended its temporary suspension of flight operations until 5:30 pm Western Indonesia Time (WIB) on September 6, 2026, as volcanic ash from the ongoing eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau continues to affect air traffic. The eruption, which began late on Friday, produced ash that was first detected at the airport early on Sunday, prompting authorities to issue the initial suspension.
Airlines scramble to adjust schedules
Airport officials reported that 301 flights were impacted between 1:30 am and 1:30 pm WIB on Sunday. The disruptions included cancellations, delays and diversions, covering 233 domestic services, 58 international routes and 10 cargo operations. The suspension was first set to end at 5:30 am WIB, then successively pushed to 9:30 am, 1:30 pm and finally 5:30 pm as ash concentrations remained above safe thresholds.
Garuda Indonesia said several of its flights to and from Jakarta were being adjusted after the temporary closure. The carrier urged passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport and to monitor its official channels for updates.
Singapore Airlines cancelled 19 flights between Singapore and Jakarta on Sunday. The airline added that “as the situation remains fluid, other SIA flights between Singapore and Indonesia may be affected,” and advised travelers to check the latest status.
Malaysia Airlines cancelled 12 flights on September 6 linking Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. The affected services were MH713, MH712, MH711, MH710, MH717, MH716, MH721, MH720, MH723, MH722, MH725 and MH724. The airline said it was closely monitoring the evolving situation and would inform passengers directly, recommending they keep contact details current in the ‘My Booking’ portal.
The ash was, frankly, everywhere. Visibility at the runway dropped below safe limits, prompting the repeated extensions of the suspension from the original 5:30 am cut‑off to 9:30 am, then 1:30 pm, and finally 5:30 pm. Visibility fell below the minimum required for safe take‑off and landing, prompting each successive extension of the suspension.
Compared with past volcanic events in the region, such as the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi that also halted flights, this incident shows how quickly ash can disrupt a major hub even when the volcano lies 180 km away. The pattern suggests authorities must remain ready for rapid operational changes whenever airborne particulates reach critical levels.