Kalimantan Wildfires Delay 21 Flights at Supadio Airport

Smoke from forest and land fires has caused disruptions at Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, delaying 21 flights between August 18 and 21, 2026. The delays occurred due to visibility falling below 1,000 meters in the morning, according to Joko Wahyudi, Head of Communication and CSR at Supadio Airport. This issue has been ongoing since August 18, particularly affecting morning flights.

Six flights to Jakarta, Surabaya, and Ketapang were postponed on Friday morning. The dense haze, with visibility ranging between 400 and 800 meters during 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), has impacted flight operations, as aircraft require a minimum visibility threshold for safe landings. The vast majority of the 21 affected flights were departures, with three to four arrival flights also impacted.

Delays ranged from one to two hours. As visibility over the past three days has deteriorated, especially in the morning, airport authorities have been closely monitoring conditions and coordinating with various agencies to ensure aviation safety. It is advised that passengers with morning departures check their flight status regularly, as visibility conditions can change rapidly.