Jakarta-bound passengers advised to check flights
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Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd has advised passengers traveling to Jakarta to verify their flight status before arriving at the airport, following a temporary closure of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. This closure was due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau. Malaysia Airports encouraged passengers to reach out to their airlines for the most current flight information, noting that updates on airport operations and reopening would be provided as needed.
Indonesia's Directorate-General of Civil Aviation issued the closure under Notice to Airmen A3341/26, confirming the presence of volcanic ash through tests. As of Saturday evening, 33 flights had been impacted at the airport, with 16 cancellations, seven delays, and five rescheduled flights. Routes affected included connections to and from Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul/Incheon, Doha, Amsterdam, and Kuala Lumpur.
Airline responses varied: Batik Air suggested passengers could rebook for the next available flight or request a refund, while AirAsia emphasized that the situation was still evolving and advised travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The ongoing volcanic eruption of Anak Krakatau, which began on September 4, has produced ash plumes that have reached thousands of meters in altitude in certain areas.
The volcano, situated between Java and Sumatra along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air collectively canceled 20 flights between Malaysia and Jakarta. Malaysia Airlines reported canceling 12 flights between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, while Batik Air canceled eight flights.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
