Indonesia reopens 5 airports after closure due to volcanic ash

George Town, Malaysia: In the aftermath of a volcanic eruption in Indonesia causing flight disruptions at Penang International Airport, no significant stranding of Indonesian passengers has been reported, according to State Tourism Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai. Airlines affected by the situation, including AirAsia, TransNusa, and Batik Air, promptly notified passengers through various communication channels before cancellation.

The meeting held yesterday involved the senior airport manager, state government representatives, and tourism industry players to discuss airport expansion plans, management direction, capacity, and international route growth. Wong emphasized the importance of aligning these discussions with Penang's international flight network expansion aspirations.

He also reported that the volcanic ash disruption at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport had led to several Penang-Jakarta flights being cancelled. Despite the volcanic eruption's impact, no large-scale stranding of Indonesian passengers was observed at Penang International Airport. Furthermore, haze affecting Malaysia has not disrupted flight operations at the airport, which remains operational as usual.

Wong assured the continued monitoring of the situation, in collaboration with the airport and airlines, to address any potential issues stemming from haze or unexpected aviation incidents. In light of these developments, two new international direct routes are set to commence in October. Hainan Airlines will launch a service between Haikou, Hainan, and Penang on October 11, while Batik Air will commence a service between Batam, Indonesia, and Penang on October 18.

These new routes will enhance Penang's air connectivity with Hainan province in China and Indonesia's Riau Islands. Wong highlighted that the state has been actively expanding its international aviation network, promoting direct links with major international cities, and witnessing a 11.13% increase in international passenger movements at Penang International Airport from January to July compared to the same period last year.