Anak Krakatau eruptions cancel 2,300 flights and close Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

Disruption overview

Eruptions from Anak Krakatau that began on 4 September 2026 shut eight airports in Indonesia, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. The closures canceled 2,300 flights and affected about 270,000 passengers, with Jakarta’s main hub expected to stay shut until at least 6:00 pm on 7 September 2026. The disruption also spread to Malaysia, where 31 Jakarta services were canceled on 6 September 2026 involving AirAsia, TransNusa, and Batik Air, leaving close to 1,000 passengers stranded. Because volcanic ash is outside the airline’s control, compensation under EC 261 is usually unlikely, but airlines should still offer rerouting or refunds, meals, and hotel accommodation if you’re stranded overnight.

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Disruption details

Flights across Indonesia were heavily disrupted after Anak Krakatau began erupting on 4 September 2026, forcing the closure of eight airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.

At least 2,300 flights were canceled, and around 270,000 passengers were affected. For passengers, this meant sudden cancellations, long waits, and a scramble to find new routes while volcanic ash continued to affect key flight paths.

Because Soekarno-Hatta is Indonesia’s main hub, the closure quickly created knock-on disruption across domestic and international schedules. The shutdown was extended several times and was expected to stay in place until at least 6:00 pm on 7 September 2026, with officials warning that more extensions were possible while the volcano remained active.

The disruption spread quickly across Indonesia and beyond:

• Eight airports were closed as ash from Anak Krakatau affected airspace on both the Java and Sumatra sides.

• A total of 2,300 flights were canceled nationwide.

• Around 270,000 passengers were affected across the country.

• On 6 September 2026, 31 Malaysia-Jakarta services were canceled, including 21 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and 6 at Penang International Airport.

The eruption series began late on Friday, 4 September 2026. By Sunday, the latest recorded burst had come at 8:23 pm local time. Ash rose to about 15,000 m on the Sumatra side and 6,000 m on the Java side, which helps explain why airport closures remained in place.

The impact was also felt on routes between Malaysia and Jakarta. The canceled services involved AirAsia, TransNusa, and Batik Air, leaving close to 1,000 passengers stranded in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

One group caught in the disruption was five Malaysian couples returning from a 9-day motorcycle tour of West Java. When they reached Soekarno-Hatta on Sunday, all departures had been halted. Their Batik Air evening flight was first moved to Monday morning, then canceled when the airport did not reopen.

With hotel rooms near the airport filling up fast, the group looked for another way out. They bought overnight train tickets to Surabaya so they could try to fly from Juanda International Airport, spending about IDR 9 million, or roughly MYR 2,060, for the party.

Travelers also reported mild throat and nasal irritation from fine ash in the air, and locals advised people to wear masks outside. That gives a clearer picture of what stranded passengers were dealing with while they waited for updates and alternative transport.

Across Indonesia, airlines were working through hotel accommodation, rerouting, and refunds for affected passengers. There is still no confirmed timeline for normal schedules to fully return, and more cancellations or diversions are possible while Anak Krakatau remains active.

Because this disruption was caused by volcanic activity, which is outside the airline’s control, compensation under EC 261 is usually unlikely. That is still true even on routes that would normally fall under those rules.

Although compensation is unlikely here, that doesn’t mean you’re without support. Your airline should still offer appropriate care and assistance if your journey is disrupted, including rerouting or refunds, food and drinks during long waits, and hotel accommodation if you need to stay overnight. If you want to better understand your rights or check whether compensation could still apply in your situation, you can use AirHelp’s free flight checker.

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