Indonesia airports reopen after volcanic ash disrupts thousands of flights

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Published: 2026-09-08T11:45:25.298Z • Permanent link

Indonesian authorities have announced the reopening of several airports across the country following a disruption caused by volcanic ash from Mount Merapi. The volcanic activity, which began on August 26, 2023, forced thousands of flights to be grounded, affecting major hubs such as Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia reported a significant decline in passenger traffic, with over 2,000 flights cancelled. The airline's CEO, Fadly Bahar, expressed relief that the airports have been reopened, stating that the airline is working to resume normal operations as soon as possible.

The disruption to air travel was not limited to Garuda Indonesia. Several international carriers, including Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, also reported significant delays and cancellations. Data from the Indonesian Transportation Ministry showed that over 3,000 flights were affected, with an estimated loss of around IDR 1 trillion (approximately USD 67 million) in revenue. The government has committed to providing compensation to affected airlines and passengers.

The reopening of the airports has been welcomed by the aviation community, with industry experts praising the swift response of Indonesian authorities. The country's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has implemented measures to minimize the risk of future disruptions, including increased monitoring of volcanic activity and enhanced emergency response plans.

The volcanic ash disruption to air travel has significant implications for the Global Infrastructure domain. The Indonesian Transportation Ministry has announced plans to upgrade the country's air traffic control systems to reduce the risk of future disruptions. This upgrade is expected to cost around IDR 2 trillion (approximately USD 133 million) and will involve the installation of new radar systems and improved communication infrastructure. The upgrade is seen as a major investment in the country's aviation infrastructure and is expected to boost the country's reputation as a major hub for air travel.

The disruption also highlights the vulnerability of global air travel to natural disasters. Research by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has shown that volcanic ash can cause significant disruptions to air travel, with the potential to affect not just airlines but also global supply chains. The IATA has called for increased investment in aviation infrastructure and emergency response planning to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on air travel.

The volcanic ash disruption to air travel is part of a larger pattern of natural disasters affecting global infrastructure. In recent years, there have been several high-profile disruptions to air travel caused by natural disasters, including the 2018 Hawaii volcanic eruption and the 2020 Australian bushfires. These events have highlighted the need for increased investment in aviation infrastructure and emergency response planning to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.