Flights connecting Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, were back in operation early Tuesday following a two-day pause due to volcanic ash resulting from a volcanic eruption, causing the cancellation of around 3,000 flights.
Indonesia’s Transportation Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, announced the reopening of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java, and two smaller airports in Banten province just after midnight. However, three airports, including Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung and Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra, remained closed until 10 a.m. due to the unpredictable wind direction around Anak Krakatau.
Purwagandhi emphasized the need for caution despite no volcanic ash traces found in tests at several airports. The extended closures were essential for thorough inspections and cleaning of airport facilities and aircraft exposed to volcanic ash.
Even though the volcanic activity at Anak Krakatau subsided on Sunday, the volcanic island remained active as of Tuesday morning. The closure of airports on Sunday and Monday impacted approximately 3,000 flights, including 622 international services, affecting about 341,000 passengers.