Indonesia weighs reopening airports as Anak Krakatau ash conditions improve

Jakarta, September 7 — Volcanic ash conditions at several Indonesian airports indicated improvement on Monday, as tests revealed no ash at ground level at four airports, according to officials. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that four consecutive ground-level tests at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport yielded negative results for volcanic ash, yet authorities were cautious about reopening the main international gateway until they were convinced of safety.

Dudy emphasized the need for additional caution due to shifting wind directions, which could affect the dispersion of ash from Anak Krakatau. Initially, eight airports were temporarily closed; however, Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam, South Sumatra, reopened at 9 am on Monday after being assessed as unaffected. The remaining seven airports—Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, Radin Inten II, Budiarto Curug, Husein Sastranegara, M. Taufik Kiemas, and Pondok Cabe—remained closed until 6 pm local time on Monday.

As of 9 am on Monday, volcanic ash disrupted approximately 2,300 flights and 270,337 passengers since September 5, including cancellations, delays, and diversions. Of these, 1,397 flights involving 177,579 passengers were affected at temporarily closed airports, while 922 flights and 92,758 passengers experienced issues at other airports due to route adjustments.

BMKG chief Teuku Faisal Fathani reported that ground-level ash tests at Halim Perdanakusuma, Husein Sastranegara, and Budiarto Curug airports came back negative. BMKG was collaborating with the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre to assess conditions for reopening affected airports and provided a continuously updated aviation weather website for public access.

Dudy also highlighted the preparedness of Kertajati, Juanda, Ahmad Yani, Adi Soemarmo, and Yogyakarta International airports as alternatives, with 10 airports readied for 24-hour operations to manage diverted flights and expedite flight schedule recovery. Airlines adjusted operations through alternative airports, with Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air deploying services via Kertajati, while Singapore Airlines utilized larger Airbus A350 aircraft at Juanda and Yogyakarta to accommodate more passengers.

Passengers whose flights were cancelled were eligible for full refunds, and immigration authorities offered flexibility for foreign nationals who had overstayed their permitted stay due to the disruption.