Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau forced Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to suspend operations and cancel more than 200 flights, disrupting both domestic and long-haul international services. Routes to Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul and Amsterdam were among those hit as Indonesian aviation authorities moved to protect aircraft from ash damage.
The eruption began on Friday, with the airport impact reported on Sunday as ash drifted about 150 kilometres west across the Sunda Strait. Aviation safety drove the response: volcanic ash can damage jet engines and make continued flying unsafe, prompting rapid schedule changes at Indonesia’s main hub.
The disruption affected one of Southeast Asia’s busiest gateways and underscored how quickly volcanic activity can ripple through a capital city’s air network. While the cancellation tally was reported at more than 200 flights, recovery timing remained unclear and operators were still assessing the wider effect on services.