Source: The Straits Times
Date: 7th September 2026 

Nearly 3,000 flights have been affected as volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau forces airport closures and diversions across western Indonesia, creating potential disruption for air cargo and time-sensitive supply chains.

Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau is continuing to disrupt aviation across western Indonesia, forcing the closure of Jakarta’s main international airport and several surrounding airports while airlines divert and cancel flights.

As of September 7, around 2,961 flights and 341,000 passengers had been affected by cancellations, delays, or diversions across the impacted airports. Seven airports remained closed, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s primary international aviation gateway.

The disruption follows eruptions at Anak Krakatau that sent volcanic ash into major flight paths. Indonesia’s meteorological authorities detected ash at different altitude levels, reaching as high as 50,000 feet in some areas.

Alternative airports activated. With Jakarta operations restricted, Indonesian authorities have prepared alternative airports to maintain air connectivity.

These include Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang and Kertajati in West Java. Some flights have already been diverted to Kertajati, while airlines are adjusting aircraft and schedules through other Indonesian gateways.

For air freight, prolonged disruption at Jakarta could affect both dedicated cargo services and belly-hold capacity carried on passenger aircraft, particularly for urgent, high-value and time-sensitive shipments.

Cargo originally routed through Jakarta may therefore face delays, revised flight schedules or alternative routings through other Indonesian gateways.

Reopening will not mean immediate recovery. Even when volcanic ash conditions improve, normal flight operations may not resume immediately.

Authorities have said runways, taxiways and aprons must be cleaned, while aircraft may require inspections to ensure volcanic material has not entered engines before they return to service.

Airlines will then need to restore schedules and reposition aircraft following days of cancellations and diversions.

This means operational disruption and cargo backlogs could continue after airports officially reopen.

What This Means

• Businesses moving air freight through Jakarta should prepare for schedule volatility and potentially longer transit times, particularly for shipments with tight delivery windows.
• Shippers should closely monitor flight status and cargo bookings and consider alternative Indonesian gateways where operationally feasible.
• Time-critical shipments may require additional flexibility as airlines work through disrupted schedules and available capacity is redistributed.

Major aviation disruptions demonstrate how quickly an unexpected event at a key gateway can affect wider supply chains.

Jakarta plays an important role in Indonesia’s international air connectivity, and prolonged restrictions can affect cargo capacity well beyond the airport itself as aircraft, schedules and shipments are redirected across the regional network.

Logfret is closely monitoring developments. Businesses with air cargo moving to, from or through Jakarta should maintain flexibility in routing and allow additional lead time until airport and airline operations stabilise.