Airport operations resume

Indonesian transport authorities reopened five airports, including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, early on Tuesday after clearing volcanic ash from runways and operational facilities. The reopenings followed two days of closures that disrupted 2,961 flights and stranded more than 340,000 passengers across the country. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that operations restarted shortly after midnight once aviation officials deemed regional airspace safe. Before clearing departures, technicians were mandated to inspect 178 aircraft grounded on the tarmac at Soekarno-Hatta to verify airworthiness. Two regional airports resumed normal operations later in the morning, while two other facilities remained closed.

“We ask for a little patience from passengers and the public, as we will be carrying out inspections to ensure that these aircraft are fit to fly.”

Volcanic activity shifts

Ash emissions originated from Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, roughly 150 kilometers west of Jakarta. The volcano began releasing ash clouds on Friday evening, escalating into heavy eruptions on Saturday with lava fountains and loud detonations. Indonesian Geological Agency head Lana Saria reported that the continuous eruption phase ended on Sunday, with the volcano transitioning to intermittent Strombolian activity on Tuesday. Seismographs registered four eruptions between dawn and noon on Tuesday, including two events lasting 19 seconds and 17 seconds, though dense fog obscured visual observation. Aviation authorities maintained restricted airspace zones around the volcano to prevent airborne particles from damaging aircraft engines and critical avionics.

“The return to Strombolian activity signaled the end of the prolonged continuous eruption phase.”

Ground disruptions and airline losses

The prolonged shutdown prompted emergency logistical measures across western and central Indonesia. Airport operators deployed free shuttle buses to transport stranded passengers to six alternative hubs located in Central Java, East Java, and Yogyakarta. The Indonesian government relaxed residency permit rules for foreign travelers who exceeded their permitted stay because of flight cancellations. On Tuesday morning alone, 243 domestic and international flights suffered delays or cancellations, affecting nearly 30,000 travelers at Jakarta's main terminal. Bayu Sutanto, a representative of the Indonesian Air Carriers Association, estimated that airlines suffered revenue losses of up to $1 million per day throughout the suspension.

Search operation in the Sunda Strait

Indonesian emergency services launched maritime and aerial searches on Tuesday to locate a speedboat carrying seven people that went missing near the volcano. The vessel, carrying five Indonesian journalists and two crew members, departed from a port in Banten province on Monday afternoon to photograph the eruptions. The journalists represented domestic and international media outlets, including the state news agency Antara, Turkish agency Anadolu, and local portal iNews. Communication ceased at 15:00 on Monday after one reporter transmitted geographic coordinates to a colleague. Search personnel, water and air police, and the boat operator deployed vessels to scour the waters surrounding the volcanic island.