Jakarta Flights Disrupted as Anak Krakatau Ash Closes Airport

Source-checked update: This article brings together information checked against primary sources and independent reporting available at publication time. Full source links are listed at the end of the article.

Volcanic ash from activity at Anak Krakatau has disrupted flights to Jakarta and temporarily closed Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Malaysia Airports reported 31 Jakarta-bound cancellations from Malaysian airports on September 6, while airlines separately confirmed cancellations affecting Malaysia-Jakarta services. The disruption remained active into September 7, with Indonesian authorities reporting further airport and flight impacts.

What Happened

An eruption of Anak Krakatau on September 6 generated volcanic ash across parts of western Indonesia. Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation confirmed that Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main international gateway, was temporarily closed because of ash associated with the volcanic activity.

The aviation effects extended beyond the airport itself. Indonesia’s weather and geophysics agency, BMKG, identified ash dispersal affecting Banten, Jakarta, West Java and areas toward Bengkulu. BMKG also reported continuing airport and aviation impacts into September 7.

In Malaysia, Malaysia Airports reported 31 flights to Jakarta cancelled on September 6. The figure covered services departing from Malaysian airports and included 21 cancellations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, six at Penang, one at Kuching, two at Subang and one at Kota Bharu.

Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air separately confirmed 20 cancelled Malaysia-Jakarta flights on the same date: 12 operated by Malaysia Airlines and eight by Batik Air. Batik Air Malaysia’s official flight information also listed four cancelled Kuala Lumpur or Subang-to-Jakarta services and four Jakarta-to-Malaysia services.

Operational notices changed during September 6, and reported airport-closure times varied as information was updated. The Ministry of Transportation later cited a notice covering a temporary closure from 13:23 to 17:30 local time. That notice should not be treated as a complete indication of current operating conditions, since the disruption continued into September 7.

What This Means for Travelers

Travelers flying to or from Jakarta may face cancellations, rebooking, delays or other changes while ash affects airspace and airport operations. The reported 31 cancellations apply specifically to Jakarta-bound flights from Malaysian airports as of midday on September 6. They are not a total for all cancelled flights in Indonesia or across the wider region.

Passengers connecting through Jakarta may also be affected even when their original journey begins elsewhere. A cancelled inbound service can disrupt a connecting itinerary, while changes to Jakarta-to-Malaysia flights may affect travelers trying to leave Indonesia. The scale and timing of disruption can differ by airline, route and airport.

Airline notices indicate that affected passengers may be offered rebooking or refund arrangements, but the available options will depend on the carrier and the individual booking. Travelers should not assume that a replacement flight will operate on the original schedule, or that a route will resume simply because a temporary closure period has been published.

Airport access and flight status may also change with limited notice while authorities monitor ash dispersal. A flight showing as scheduled can still be subject to a later operational change, particularly while aviation conditions remain under review.

What Travelers Should Do Now

Check your flight directly with the operating airline before leaving for the airport. Look for the latest cancellation, rebooking or refund instructions linked to your booking, and confirm the status of every sector if your itinerary includes a connection through Jakarta or Malaysia.

If your flight has been cancelled, use the airline’s stated channels to review the available rebooking or refund options. Keep your booking reference and any airline correspondence accessible, particularly if the journey includes more than one carrier.

Travelers departing from or connecting through Soekarno-Hatta should also check the airport’s operating status and relevant Indonesian aviation updates before setting out. Do not rely only on an earlier closure time, since operational notices were updated during September 6 and impacts continued into September 7.

If your journey is not yet cancelled but is scheduled during the disruption, allow extra time for status checks and remain prepared for a change. Confirm the latest position again close to departure, rather than treating an earlier schedule as definitive.

Passengers already in transit should contact their airline or airport service desk for route-specific guidance. Where onward travel depends on a cancelled service, ask the carrier to confirm the full itinerary, including any connection or return sector, before making separate arrangements.

What Is Confirmed

An Anak Krakatau eruption on September 6 generated volcanic ash that affected Jakarta airspace and temporarily closed Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Malaysia Airports reported 31 Jakarta-bound flights cancelled from Malaysian airports on September 6: 21 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, six at Penang, one at Kuching, two at Subang and one at Kota Bharu.

Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air confirmed 20 cancelled Malaysia-Jakarta flights on September 6, comprising 12 Malaysia Airlines flights and eight Batik Air flights.

BMKG reported ash dispersal affecting Banten, Jakarta, West Java and areas toward Bengkulu, with airport and aviation impacts continuing into September 7. The disruption was ongoing at that time.

Sources

Primary sources

• BMKG Terus Pantau Dampak Erupsi Gunung Anak Krakatau
• Menhub Dudy: Keselamatan Utama, Dampak Erupsi Gunung Anak Krakatau Terus Dimonitor
• Dampak Erupsi Anak Gunung Krakatau terhadap Penerbangan Lion Group di Soekarno-Hatta dan Halim Perdanakusuma
• Advisory on Scoot flights affected by the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau
• AirAsia flights impacted by the Mount Anak Krakatau volcanic eruption

Independent reporting

• Anak Krakatau Eruption: 31 Jakarta-Bound Flights From Malaysia Cancelled – MAHB
• Indonesia cancels hundreds of flights as Anak Krakatau volcano erupts

Editorial note

This Travel News article was prepared by the VibrantGateways Team using publicly available information and primary sources where available. AI-assisted tools may be used during research and drafting, with publication subject to our editorial verification process.

Travel information can change quickly. Schedules, routes, prices, entry requirements, availability and other time-sensitive details should be confirmed with the relevant official provider or authority before making travel decisions.

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