Tangerang, Banten. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport remained crowded Monday morning as thousands of passengers were stranded following the temporary suspension of flights over concerns about volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau.

Thousands of passengers were directly affected by the disruption, with long lines forming at airline counters as travelers sought refunds or rescheduled flights. Many flights were being pushed back to Tuesday, Sept. 8, according to information from the airport.

Some passengers chose to remain at the airport because of financial constraints and difficulties arranging alternative transportation, forcing them to spend the night in terminal waiting areas.

The airport was closed early Sunday, Sept. 6, and was initially scheduled to remain closed until 11:59 p.m. local time under a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, issued by AirNav Indonesia. 

As of 9:30 p.m. Sunday, 1,039 flights had been affected, comprising 746 domestic flights, 272 international flights, and 21 cargo flights. The disruption affected 166,351 passengers.

The disruptions included cancellations, delays, flight diversions, and other operational impacts.

Yudistiawan, assistant deputy for communications and legal affairs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, said the closure was a precautionary measure based on aviation safety considerations.

“Flight operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport remain temporarily closed until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2026, following indications of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruptive activity, in accordance with the latest NOTAM from AirNav Indonesia,” he said.

Soekarno-Hatta activated its service recovery measures to assist affected passengers, including providing food and drinks and arranging buses to transport passengers to hotels in coordination with airlines.

InJourney Airports, which operates the airport, also provided free buses to Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang, and Surabaya. Eight buses — two for each destination — were initially deployed, with the first departures scheduled for 9 p.m. Sunday.

Additional buses and departures would be added if needed, Yudistiawan said.

Passengers could register for the free bus service at assistance posts in Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

The airport also opened its Employee Lounge as a temporary rest area and established an assistance post at Terminal 1B to strengthen coordination and passenger services.

Airlines maintained service counters in each terminal to provide updates and handle individual passenger arrangements.

Airport management also coordinated with commercial tenants to keep services operating around the clock so passengers could continue to access essential facilities during the closure.

Flight operations will resume gradually, depending on developments in the volcanic ash situation, Yudistiawan said.

“Passenger safety is our top priority,” he said.

The airport urged passengers to check their flight status and schedules directly with their airlines before traveling to the airport.

For airport information and assistance, passengers can contact InJourney Airports' 172 contact center.

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