Indonesia’s main airports resumed operations on Sunday after being closed for several days due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Anak Krakatoa, a volcano situated between the islands of Java and Sumatra. The initial eruption late last Friday prompted the temporary closure of eight airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, disrupting nearly 3,000 flights and affecting more than 340,000 passengers.

Authorities began reopening Soekarno-Hatta and four other airports once ash had been cleared from critical infrastructure and wind conditions improved. Transport Minister Dudy Purwogandhi said that 178 aircraft grounded at Jakarta’s primary air travel hub required thorough inspections to ensure airworthiness before resuming flights, adding that recovery to full operational capacity would take some time. The minister confirmed that three flights took off shortly after the reopening, including two commercial flights to eastern Indonesia.

Passengers expressed mixed reactions to the disruption. Alvin Pratama Putra, who was at Soekarno-Hatta preparing for a flight to South Korea, said his cancelled journey had been rescheduled for Thursday, acknowledging the safety risks posed by flying through volcanic ash. Another traveler, a Japanese tourist known as Nozomi, conveyed frustration over the lack of clear communication from authorities during the closure but hoped for a smooth continuation of flights.

The prolonged shutdown also placed financial pressure on airlines. Bayu Sutanto, secretary general of the Indonesia National Air Carriers Association, highlighted losses from canceled flights and increased operational costs, such as extra fuel from route diversions, aircraft parking fees, and crew expenses. He noted that delays involving a single plane at Soekarno-Hatta could cascade into multiple subsequent flight disruptions, with total daily losses potentially reaching 19 billion rupiah (around US$1.2 million).

Despite the reopening, Anak Krakatoa remained active, erupting three times on Sunday morning. Although these eruptions were smaller than the initial outbreak, volcanic ash emissions continued to pose a risk to flight safety depending on ash plume height and wind direction. Lana Saria, head of Indonesia’s geological agency, said monitoring efforts would continue closely to assess ongoing risks.

Anak Krakatoa, which means “child of Krakatau,” surfaced about a century ago from the site of the original Krakatoa volcano. The older volcano famously erupted catastrophically in 1883, causing massive tsunamis and claiming over 36,000 lives. Indonesia, located within the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is home to over 130 active volcanoes. Other volcanoes, such as Mount Ibu and Ili Lewotolok on islands east of Java, also erupted on Sunday.

The volcanic ash event underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Indonesia’s aviation sector in managing disruptions linked to the country’s volcanic activity. Authorities and airlines continue to coordinate efforts to balance safety with the gradual restoration of flight schedules amid an evolving natural hazard.