Indonesian airports resume flights after volcanic ash disruption
Jakarta's main airport and four others have reopened after being closed for days due to ash from Mount Anak Krakatoa. The eruption on Saturday stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers and disrupted nearly 3,000 flights. The transport ministry confirmed the resumption of operations.
The Transport Ministry announced early Tuesday that Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and four regional hubs on Java have restarted operations. This follows a formal notice posted on Instagram confirming the end of the ash-related shutdown.
The crisis began Saturday when Anak Krakatoa erupted, sending ash into the sky. Eight airports were initially shut, affecting nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 travelers. Authorities had repeatedly prolonged the closures before Tuesday's reopening.
The prolonged disruption could strain the finances of stranded passengers and airlines, with many facing rebooking costs and lost revenue. Repeated closures may also undermine traveler confidence in regional aviation, potentially affecting tourism-dependent economies near Java. Furthermore, the incident highlights how unpredictable natural hazards could force authorities to develop more robust, long-term contingency plans for airport operations and passenger welfare during future eruptions.