Jakarta. Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has extended a temporary closure until 9:30 a.m. local time on Sunday after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau disrupted flight operations.

The airport was initially scheduled to close from 1:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. on Sunday under Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) A3341/26. The closure was extended following increased volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau, according to Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The disruption has affected at least 33 flights at Soekarno-Hatta as of 10 p.m. on Saturday, with international services bearing the brunt of the impact.

Sixteen international flights were canceled, seven were delayed and five were rescheduled. Affected international routes include services to and from Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul/Incheon, Doha, Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur.

Domestic flights were also disrupted, with four cancellations and one flight diverted. Affected routes included services to and from Lampung, Denpasar and Surabaya.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said a paper test conducted at Soekarno-Hatta between 12:35 a.m. and 1:05 a.m. on Sunday indicated the presence of volcanic ash at the airport.

Acting Head of Public Relations and General Affairs at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Endah Purnama Sari said the initial closure was imposed as a precautionary measure after the ash was detected.

The aviation authority is continuing to monitor conditions and coordinate with airlines, the airport operator, air navigation service providers and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Authorities are also warning passengers of possible knock-on disruptions as airlines work to restore their schedules.

The disruption could have a cascading impact on aircraft rotations, fleet availability, subsequent flight schedules and terminal capacity, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.

Airlines have been advised to adjust their schedules dynamically based on conditions at the airport and along flight routes.

However, safety remains the top priority in all operational decisions, the aviation authority said.

Passengers traveling through Soekarno-Hatta on Sunday have been urged to monitor updates from their airlines regarding the status of their flights and allow additional time for travel to the airport in case schedules change.

Authorities said they would continue monitoring the volcanic ash situation in coordination with airlines, the airport operator, air navigation services, BMKG and other relevant agencies.

Further updates will be issued if there are significant changes to conditions or flight operations at Soekarno-Hatta.

Add as a preferred source on Google +